as in to survive
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold out
Eyes were rolled, arms were held out and gloves were launched.
—
Beren Cross, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Perhaps Henry or Hooper could be held out to give young players a shot.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, video captured by NBC News' crew on the ground showed families across a tent encampment in Khan Younis trying to shovel and sweep dirty rainwater from their tents, while others gathered around a soup kitchen in the rain, holding out pots and pans and crying out for warm food.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 3 Jan. 2025
But while Massie held out to vote instead for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Norman and Self switched their votes in favor of Johnson after Trump called them.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hold out 
Beren Cross, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Perhaps Henry or Hooper could be held out to give young players a shot.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, video captured by NBC News' crew on the ground showed families across a tent encampment in Khan Younis trying to shovel and sweep dirty rainwater from their tents, while others gathered around a soup kitchen in the rain, holding out pots and pans and crying out for warm food.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 3 Jan. 2025
But while Massie held out to vote instead for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Norman and Self switched their votes in favor of Johnson after Trump called them.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hold out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold out
Verb
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Only her own plantation has survived Sherman’s assault.—
Scott Spillman,
The New Yorker,
29 Jan. 2025
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Sanders’ story of his Toyota Tacoma surviving the Eaton Fire went viral on social media.—
David Caraccio,
Sacramento Bee,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The first phase will last for six weeks and will see the staggered release of 33 Israeli hostages.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN,
24 Jan. 2025
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The rain will become widespread Sunday night into Monday and could last into Tuesday, when it is expected to move off to the east.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Both believe that their form of governance is superior and must prevail.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes,
29 Jan. 2025
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Previously trapped near an undersea mountain, the iceberg now appears to be drifting with prevailing currents, according to Andrew Meijers, a physical oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hold out
Cite this Entry
“Hold out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20out. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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