holds 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of hold
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as in contains
to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in accommodates
to make or have room for the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people

Synonyms & Similar Words

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holds

2 of 2

noun

plural of hold
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as in clasps
the act or manner of holding make sure you have a firm hold on the chain saw before you turn it on

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of holds
Verb
In contrast, a co-op owner holds shares in the corporation that owns the building, along with a proprietary lease granting them the sole right to occupy a specific unit. Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2025 Dave Schultz holds the single-season record with 472 for the 1974-75 Broad Street Bullies, while Tiger Williams has the career mark at 3,971. Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025 Everything about this washer dryer is convenient, including the intelligent dispenser that holds enough detergent and softener for up to 32 loads. Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025 The MoMa Black Arts Council was formed in 1993, and holds several events throughout the year, including art talks and film screenings. Keyaira Boone, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025 On most days, Hijri holds court from a stone house in the village of Qanawat. Jane Arraf, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025 Hilliard, who holds a Master of Library Science degree, incorporates her persisting loves of small towns, big cities, fashion and mysteries into her books. Rachel Raposas, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Kapil holds a dual bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronics, and Communication Engineering and a master’s diploma in journalism from the Institute of Journalism and New Media in Bangalore. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2025 The upper level holds a bonus room, loft and three more bedrooms while the lower level comprises a large recreation room, home movie theater, a wine cellar and guest suite. David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 4 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
  • He will not be traded, in my mind, unless Anaheim retains half of his remaining salary.
    Pierre LeBrun, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
  • In addition, artificial turf retains heat, often reaching temperatures of 150-180 degrees Fahrenheit on warm, sunny days.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The guess here is that this will all unravel much faster than anyone currently thinks, leaving the country, and its new government, adrift and voters counting the days to the midterm elections.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Today, Israel is probably less worried than ever about what Russia thinks of its frequent incursions into Syrian airspace.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • But the problem, experts say, is that sewage today contains a host of chemicals, including PFAS, generated by businesses, factories and homes.
    Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Products, like Latisse—which contains an ingredient called Prostaglandin—were specially formulated to help lashes grow long.
    Lorena Meouchi, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The cabin accommodates up to six operators seated on shock-absorbing seats and two crew members at the forward control console.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2025
  • With rates starting at $40,000 per night and a two-night minimum stay, the resort accommodates up to 22 guests across three bungalows.
    Kaila Yu, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In each of these use cases, AI that sorts through appropriate, clean datasets—and grasps the full context of the worker’s role, functions and intentions—is the differentiator in deriving quantifiable value.
    Dan Adika, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Del Mazo grasps the importance of rhythm for the page turn, and her pacing is spot-on.
    Barney Saltzberg, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Scott, who considers Stiller both his boss and a friend, justified the show’s painstaking development process as necessary for quality control.
    Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
  • The Philippines considers karaoke a national pastime, and the people around you are constantly crooning into their Magic Sing microphones or portable karaoke machines.
    Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Like other Gazans, many Christians in the enclave say their lives have long been overshadowed by a cycle of wars with Israel and an Israeli-Egyptian blockade that tightly regulates travel and commerce.
    Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
  • The Federal Aviation Administration regulates drones and light shows and permitted the Holiday Drone Show at Lake Eola on Saturday.
    Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Hezbollah’s role as chief deterrent to Israel for Iran, however, now seems to feature little in Israeli calculations, after continued pummeling of Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.
    Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The fall of Homs gave insurgents control over Syria's strategic heartland and key highway crossroads, severing Damascus from Assad's coastal strongholds of Latakia and Tartus, home to Russian military bases.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024

Cite this Entry

“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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