Synonyms of hold
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as in to grip 
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as in to keep
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as in to think
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as in to contain
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as in to have
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as in to retain
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as in to accommodate
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as in to grasp
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as in to consider
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as in to regulate
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as in to aim
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as in grip
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as in stronghold
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as in sway
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as in contact
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as in jail
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as in understanding
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as in imprisonment
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold
Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
The former Unilever executive assumed a title previously held by Chanel co-owner Alain Wertheimer, who became global executive chair of the company.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025
Elizabeth Schulze, ABC News, 16 Jan. 2025
That was until this month, when President Joe Biden signed legislation ordering the Corps to put its plans on hold and consider a simpler solution: Stop using the dams for electricity.
—Tony Schick, ProPublica, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hold 
Verb
Since then the group and community have held many more meetings and candlelight vigils, taught residents about Narcan, a medication that reverses the effects of fentanyl, and trained them how to use it.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
The former Unilever executive assumed a title previously held by Chanel co-owner Alain Wertheimer, who became global executive chair of the company.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
And the reality is that both presidents have limited options to put the ban on hold.
—Elizabeth Schulze, ABC News, 16 Jan. 2025
That was until this month, when President Joe Biden signed legislation ordering the Corps to put its plans on hold and consider a simpler solution: Stop using the dams for electricity.
—Tony Schick, ProPublica, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
Verb
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The region has been gripped by freezing weather this week with temperatures plunging into the mid-teens Monday night and barely climbing above the high 20s by Tuesday afternoon.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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Already, parts of both regions are gripped by a winter storm that has killed at least four people, disrupted travel and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of households.J.J. McCorvey, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2025
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Some within the conservative camp have expressed alarm at the party’s embrace of a group that most mainstream conservatives had previously kept at arm’s length, as well as the persecution of legislators who have flouted the party line to support the president’s impeachment and arrest.Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
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That’s why Hayek wanted to keep Fisher out of politics, and in business.John Tamny, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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Many economists think this predicament is best addressed via a weaker yuan.William Pesek, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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It is thought to be funded by companies across several countries, including the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Los Angeles Lakers player James counts himself among those whose property sits close to the perimeter of the ongoing Palisades Fire, which has spread over more than 23,700 acres, and is 17 percent contained, per CAL Fire.John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
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Further north, the Lidia Fire was first reported Wednesday, burned 395 acres and was 75% contained as of Friday, according to Cal Fire.Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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Even in that drive, the Broncos had a pair of rushing attempts that went for 5 yards or more.Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025
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Sometimes, massive fires have multiple origin points, especially amid the sort of weather L.A. has experienced recently, with Santa Ana winds blowing at unusually high speeds.Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
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If the buyer is not a U.S. company and does not desire to grant stock options or equity incentives, what types of cash compensation plans will the buyer use to retain key employees of the seller?AllBusiness, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
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Finally, pay a visit to a former U.S. Weather Bureau Station building which now functions as a welcome center but retains its 1901 appearance and can give further insight into weather forecasting sciences of the past.Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
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However, Cassidy's friends have been more than accommodating when spending time together.Ashley Vega, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
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Perle was underwriting it and finally had to rent a hall to accommodate the troops.CBS News, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In my experience, PE firms rarely grasp the value of strategic marketing.Humphrey Ho, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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Lee Wright, Hobson’s editor at Simon & Schuster, seemed not to have fully grasped that writing fiction was a matter of placing oneself in the shoes of someone else.Rachel Gordan, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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