hold 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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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

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noun

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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

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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

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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

Examples 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
Related Articles The Lahaina wildfire holds lessons for California and other Western states A Red Wave goodbye to victimhood politics. Dan Walters, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024 The Trust does not hold any cash except in connection with creation and redemption of shares or to pay expenses not assumed by the Sponsor. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
Those ticket sales are down 49% from its $51 million debut, a decent hold for movies of the superhero ilk. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 3 Nov. 2024 While Venom 3 last session registered the lowest opening of the trilogy domestically, the $120M budgeted movie had a terrific second-weekend hold there, as Anthony has noted. Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hold 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
  • For those eager to revisit or catch up on the gripping saga, seasons one through three are available to stream now, exclusively on BET+.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Hell or High Water (2016) — A gripping modern Western about two brothers who resort to bank robbery to save their family ranch.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The Sharks’ prospect pool was also largely devoid of high-end talent, with the organization trading away multiple first-round draft picks throughout the 2010s for short-term solutions to keep the championship window open.
    Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
  • The engine of a good detective novel is the same engine that drives a good literary novel: There’s a mystery at the heart of all good stories that keeps the reader turning pages.
    Erik Pedersen, Orange County Register, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • While many designers of his generation have been thinking legacy — going in for corporate investment, and faster retail growth — Bal never followed that path.
    Mayu Saini, WWD, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Decide below, then see what readers across the globe think.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Officials had not made progress on containing the fire, and there was no official count for the number of homes the Mountain Fire has destroyed in Camarillo Heights and other parts of Ventura County.
    Phil Helsel, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • While these spaces contained only a handful of struggling plants that likely sprouted from seeds dropped by birds, the gophers were allowed to do what gophers do best for 24 hours.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Field pumpkins have a watery, stringy and sometimes bitter taste.
    Claudia Alexander, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Rutting bucks have a marching cadence that sounds different than a doe or squirrel.
    Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • In America, no incumbent party with presidential approval ratings as low as Biden’s has ever retained power.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
  • In some good news, Nvidia is upgrading the Priority tier for GeForce Now to support a higher display resolution while retaining the $9.99 cost.
    Michael Kan, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The company amended its credit agreement to accommodate the Ecommerce Restructuring, reducing the revolving credit facility from $500 million to $400 million.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Poles taller than 8 feet need to be bracketed into a wall for stability, but unlike similar products, Freestyle can accommodate ceilings up to 12 feet high.
    Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The concept of awe can be slippery to grasp, and as such, papers tend to offer examples.
    Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Understanding the Real Cost of Employee Burnout Many leaders understand that burnout impacts productivity, but not everyone grasps how deep the issue runs.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near hold

Cite this Entry

“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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