hold 1 of 2

verb

ˈhōld How to pronounce hold (audio)
Definition of holdnext
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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4
as in to contain
to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions

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

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8
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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9
as in to consider
to think of in a particular way held to be the best blueberry pies in the state

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10
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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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

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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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3
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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7
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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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

Example 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
The annual four-day event has been held every May in its namesake region of Scotland since 2008. — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Rookie Malik Muhammad, in his NFL debut, got flagged for holding but also had a strong tackle in the open field for a loss. — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
Friends came to take her straight to the hospital, where she was placed on a psychiatric hold. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026 If the direction of travel holds, the marginal buyer of gold for the next ten years is somebody who doesn't care about the price and isn't going to sell. — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold
  1. grip
  2. keep
  3. think
  4. contain
  5. have
  6. retain
  7. accommodate
  8. grasp
Verb
  • Last July, Patterson was found guilty of the murders after a nine-week trial that gripped Australia.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The conflict is still gripping the region and no resolution is in sight.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of grip
Verb
  • Jurin keeps working after the conversation ends—across phone, email, web chat and LINE, the messaging app used by the vast majority of Japan’s population—connecting plain language to the software that acts.
    — Jurin AI Contributor, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Turnbull says the state could do better keeping an open line of communication with road crews.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Beyond the rooms, the hotel offers experiences that turn a stay into a real adventure; think horseback riding through Konavle, an ATV or buggy safari, sea kayaking around the Old Town walls, or even a private Game of Thrones tour through the city.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Westerns are often thought to glorify the violence and vigilantism of the 19th-century towns on the expanding American border.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • The Cohen Building originally housed the Social Security Administration, an important piece of the New Deal legacy, and contains frescoes painted in the 1940s by famed artist Seymour Fogel on the entrance lobby walls, Okin said.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Paul Robinson is accused of hiding a safe containing drugs and cash.
    — Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of contain
Verb
  • Mayer didn’t have that opportunity in the majors, spending chunks of time at second (53 games), third (39) and shortstop (26).
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The neighborhood The island of Sveti Klement has no roads or cars, just a couple of tractors and a golf buggy to add to the pleasant feeling of being in your hideaway.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of have
Verb
  • The referendum would allow the city to enter into a management agreement with a private company while retaining ownership of the stadium and surrounding property.
    — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • For communities facing population loss, an aging workforce, or struggling to retain young professionals and skilled workers, attracting new residents can make economic sense.
    — Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of retain
Verb
  • The state has allocated 4,845 units to Newport Beach to plan for, but the city has approved zoning and development standards that could accommodate up to 8,174 new homes.
    — Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Games will also need to accommodate millions of fans traveling around Southern California.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of accommodate
Verb
  • This is supposed to be the part of the game Allen is weeks, even years, away from really grasping.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Payton has talked routinely in camp about Coleman being further along than other first-year backs in his ability to grasp pass-protection responsibilities.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of grasp

Phrases Containing hold

Browse Nearby Words

hokum
hold
hold a brief for
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Cite this Entry

“Hold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hold

Nglish: Translation of hold for Spanish Speakers

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