hold 1 of 2

1
2
3
4
as in to contain
to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
7
as in to accommodate
to make or have room for the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people

Synonyms & Similar Words

8
9
10
11
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal held the camera on the actor throughout the scene

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
7

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

Examples of hold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Image shows crowd in Dublin, not New York Trump, who is locked in a tight race for the presidency with Vice President Kamala Harris, held a rally Oct. 27 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024 Trending on Billboard While many benefits take several weeks, if not months, to plan, Concert for Carolina was held less than a month after the worst natural disaster to ever hit North Carolina ravished mountain towns, including Asheville and Boone, and left close to 100 people dead. Melinda Newman, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
Redmayne revealed how was taught to use a phone as a weapon while filming The Day of the Jackal, leading Mescal to make a joke about putting his Mom on hold while dealing with an assailant. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024 When floods ripped through Pakistan in 2022 — a nationwide disaster that submerged over one-third of the country, damaging or destroying 30,000 schools — education was put on hold for millions of girls like Muqadas. Unicef Usa, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hold 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hold.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near hold

Cite this Entry

“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on hold

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!