hold 1 of 2

verb

ˈhōld How to pronounce hold (audio)
Definition of holdnext
Enter your own sentence containing hold , and get words to replace it.
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1
as in to grip
to have or keep in one's hands this casserole dish is too hot to hold, so grab a potholder

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2
as in to keep
to continue to have in one's possession or power she, and she alone, held the keys to the mysterious chest

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3
as in to think
to have as an opinion "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"

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4
as in to contain
to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions

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5
as in to have
to keep in one's mind or heart still held her close to his heart, though they had long parted

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6
as in to retain
to keep, control, or experience as one's own the same family has held this piece of land for over 100 years

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7
as in to accommodate
to make or have room for the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people

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8
as in to grasp
to reach for and take hold of by embracing with the fingers or arms please hold my arm on these slippery stairs

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9
as in to consider
to think of in a particular way held to be the best blueberry pies in the state

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10
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) we managed to hold our laughter until we got outside hold your temper until you hear the whole story

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11
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal held the camera on the actor throughout the scene

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hold

2 of 2

noun

1
as in grip
the act or manner of holding make sure you have a firm hold on the chain saw before you turn it on

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2
as in stronghold
a structure or place from which one can resist attack the ruins of an ancient Roman hold

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3
as in sway
the right or means to command or control others the government has no hold over where we live and work

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4
as in contact
the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation I worry that I won't be able to get hold of you in an emergency

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5
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody upon hearing the guilty verdict, the accused realized that he would lie in that godforsaken hold for the remainder of his life

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6
as in understanding
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something I need to get hold of the situation before planning a course of action

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7
as in imprisonment
the state of being held in lawful custody a suspected terrorist who was abducted at an airport and put in hold at an undisclosed location

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word hold different from other verbs like it?

The words accommodate and contain are common synonyms of hold. While all three words mean "to have or be capable of having within," hold implies the capacity of containing or the usual or permanent function of containing or keeping.

the bookcase will hold all my textbooks

When is it sensible to use accommodate instead of hold?

The words accommodate and hold are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, accommodate stresses holding without crowding or inconvenience.

the hall can accommodate 500 people

When would contain be a good substitute for hold?

While the synonyms contain and hold are close in meaning, contain implies the actual presence of a specified substance or quantity within something.

the can contains a quart of oil

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 hold
Verb
The school’s namesake will be honored at the event, which will be held at the Glorya Kaufman International Dance Center in Los Angeles on May 3. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025 Does playing Coachella hold any special significance for you? — Katie Bain, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
In the Salon-style corridor hold groupings of dogs and horses, religious iconography (the best by William Blake, who will be the star of a solo show later), among more. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Additionally, the continuation of all Citadel spinoff series are on hold, a least until the second season is released, if not indefinitely. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
  1. grip
  2. keep
  3. think
  4. contain
  5. have
  6. retain
  7. accommodate
  8. grasp
Verb
  • Directed by Shinji Higuchi—known for blending stunning visuals with gripping human drama in works like Shin Godzilla—this panic-suspense thriller follows the intense struggles of those racing to save lives under extreme conditions.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2025
  • After 10 years of war, Yemen is gripped by malnutrition, disease outbreaks, lack of access to health care and other urgent services, and other life-threatening risks to the most vulnerable — all evidence of a full-scale humanitarian crisis.
    — Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of grip
Verb
  • For theater lovers, the ever-changing lineup of new productions, revivals, and experimental pieces offers endless reasons to keep coming back.
    — Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The White House decided to keep a surveillance program going regardless, but backed down after top law enforcement officials threatened to resign.
    — Charlie Savage, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought that Strong was actually the veteran of the pair, unfazed by the fanfare and the promise of a national semifinal matchup with UCLA in Tampa, Fla., on Friday.
    — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Loch Ness, the infamous freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands, has long been thought to be the home of an indescribable creature.
    — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of think
Verb
  • The guests-only 14th floor contains the outdoor pool—stretched along the building’s edge with bang-on skyline views—and the Living Room, a clubhouse where Capella hosts events like an Evening Ritual hour with complimentary cocktails and canapés.
    — Travis Levius, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The Keystone oil pipeline was shut down Tuesday morning following a rupture in North Dakota, with the resulting spill contained to an agricultural field near Fort Ransom.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of contain
Verb
  • Nick Jonas had someone special by his side at the Broadway opening of The Last Five Years on Sunday, April 6, 2025 in New York City.
    — Dave Quinn, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Downsides While apple cider vinegar has potential benefits, taking it before bed can have some downsides.
    — Johna Burdeos, Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of have
Verb
  • In the aftermath, the motion states, Doe retained legal counsel and, following months of negotiations, was able to reach a settlement with Schrader’s lawyers in February of this year.
    — Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Status quo supporters claim voters still choose because the appointee must run for election to retain the seat.
    — Bob Marshall, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of retain
Verb
  • Padilla said officials recognized the need and have planned for equipment to be shipped to accommodate private attorney calls.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Listen to this article Solana Beach has issued permits for 178 out of 875 housing units that the city needs to accommodate as part of the state’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation process, but none yet for very low income units, according to an annual update at the March 26 City Council meeting.
    — Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • Meanwhile, each of these three skills can be grasped in less than one year and will cost you a fraction of the cost of a degree--between $400 to $1,000 on average--to learn them.
    — Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Jack Blues is sweetly grasping his 31-year-old dad’s face in the frames — which appear to have been taken after bathtime — while lying on a white towel on a tiled floor.
    — Clare Fisher, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of grasp

Phrases Containing hold

Browse Nearby Words

hokum
hold
hold a brief for
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Cite this Entry

“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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