1
as in grips
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 retains
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 thinks
to have as an opinion
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"
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4
5
as in has
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 owns
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
8
as in grasps
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
10
as in regulates
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 aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
held the camera on the actor throughout the scene
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1
as in clasps
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 strongholds
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the ruins of an ancient Roman hold
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3
as in controls
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 jails
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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5
as in understandings
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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6
as in imprisonments
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 holds
Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
The Science Of Trust Trust is the glue that holds high-performance teams together.
—Lynda Silsbee, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
One end holds a small roller for hard-to-reach areas like the eye contour; a larger roller on the other end targets the cheeks and the forehead.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
Short term, self-doubt destroys focus and productivity, stifles creativity, holds you back from setting audacious goals, and feels downright terrible.
—Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
As a former educator at The Pennsylvania State University, this collaboration holds a special place in Key’s heart, who believes the product makes learning more accessible.
—Kenneth J. Williams Jr., Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
The difference between this and a real book, though, is that the device holds thousands of books.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
The Science Of Trust Trust is the glue that holds high-performance teams together.
—Lynda Silsbee, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
One end holds a small roller for hard-to-reach areas like the eye contour; a larger roller on the other end targets the cheeks and the forehead.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
Short term, self-doubt destroys focus and productivity, stifles creativity, holds you back from setting audacious goals, and feels downright terrible.
—Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
As a former educator at The Pennsylvania State University, this collaboration holds a special place in Key’s heart, who believes the product makes learning more accessible.
—Kenneth J. Williams Jr., Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
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That would put the potential launch of the Pixel 9a in early March, although the early launch of the Pixel 9 family could mean the 9a retains a slot near May’s I/O Developer conference.Ewan Spence, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
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This group of insiders, including early investors, often retains significant control, notably through pre-minted coins.Marie Poteriaieva, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Just remember, whatever one person thinks, roughly half the nation thinks otherwise.Marni Jameson, arkansasonline.com, 5 Oct. 2024
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Roger Valdez thinks, writes, works on housing, and advocates for progressive supply side solutions to inflation.Roger Valdez, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The formulation also contains the patented Cell-ox Shield Technology, which combines sun protection with antioxidants for deeper skin protection.Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
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But instead of playing a party game involving faux murder or demonic possession, a suitcase is introduced that contains a body-swapping machine.Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
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There’s also an exterior laptop sleeve and another pocket that nicely accommodates my toiletry bag and sunglasses.Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 21 Oct. 2024
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The home accommodates a bedroom, bathroom, living room, dining room, kitchen and washroom.Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The process begins with that concept stage when Dahlgren said the line reviews what worked well on previous ships and considers the broader state of the industry.Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
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With 99% of counties nationwide affected by flooding since 1996, FEMA considers floods the most common and costly natural disasters in the country.Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Summary Circadian rhythm is the internal body clock that regulates the times of being awake and asleep in 24 hours.Sanja Jelic, Verywell Health, 3 Oct. 2024
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The Texas State Funeral Services Commission, which regulates body donation in Texas, also may be able to provide information about how a body was used.Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 2 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Industrial cities such as Allentown, Bethlehem and Reading had long been Democratic strongholds because of the labor movement.A. K. Sandoval-Strausz, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2024
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The ground raids will target Hezbollah strongholds that threaten Israeli communities along the Jewish State's northern border, according to IDF spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.Fox News, Fox News, 2 Oct. 2024
Verb
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This keeps oxygen from entering the bottle, which, in turn, preserves open wine for up to four weeks.Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
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By prioritizing the happiness and well-being of employees, companies can create a positive work environment that not only attracts top talent but also keeps them engaged and motivated.Tanya Arturi, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near holds
Cite this Entry
“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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