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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holds
Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Outside of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, who both stand alone as the only squads in their division with winning records, every other divisional leader holds only a slim edge over rivals in hot pursuit.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
One actor in particular, however, holds a special place in Meloni's heart.
—Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
Kale Kale is a dark, sturdy leafy green that holds its own amongst your healthiest greens.
—Lauren O'Connor, Health, 9 Nov. 2025
But the majority of all diamonds – 90% – are cut and polished in India, which holds a towering tariff rate of 50%.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Hopefully that holds for tonight!
—Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
The sponsor retains responsibility for the content and holds the copyright to their material.
—Rowan Briggs, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
Virginia holds key elections on Tuesday.
—ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025
Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 12 Jan. 2026
American companies won’t invest without a better sense of what Venezuela’s future holds.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Jail records show Barrera Delgado is being held with a $5,000 bond on one charge, with additional holds including a no-bond provision on some counts and an immigration hold pending further court proceedings.
—Sergio Candido, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Flos’s Bilboquet table lamp holds, especially for small desks.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2026
Both men were placed under immigration holds.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Funds deposited into your account may be subject to holds.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 28 Dec. 2025
The movie crossed the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office after one week in theaters and is expected to have strong holds into the new year.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 26 Dec. 2025
Over 30 hours, starting on the morning of December 22, the last of them were crammed into the Meredith Victory, the ship’s crew filling its five holds with three levels each of human cargo.
—Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
One cheerfully holds a toothbrush, her hair wrapped in a matching second towel (for me, a universal symbol of maturity and womanhood.
—Noun
Some of those people have been arrested directly by ICE agents while others have been arrested by other law enforcement agencies, placed on immigration holds within county jails and then arrested by ICE while being held.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds
Verb
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The bottom of the mat has a textured backing that grips the floor, keeping it in place and preventing slips and falls.—
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By equipping a commercial prosthetic with pressure and proximity sensors and training an AI neural network on natural grasping movements, the team created a hand that grips more intuitively and securely.—
Verb
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Save Victoria Park retains hope that the decision can be reversed, saying that applications for the park’s permanent legal protection are still being evaluated.—
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While many are now driven primarily by economic interests, a subset retains insurgent, ant-imperialist commitments.—
Verb
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That's precisely what a smart Southern cook thinks, too.—
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The Pahlavi pretender himself certainly thinks so.—
Verb
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Use Paint to Refresh Cracked Wood Start by cleaning the wood with hot, soapy water that contains a degreasing agent.—
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DeFi advocates also want to ensure the market structure bill contains language allowing individuals to self-custody their crypto.—
Verb
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This previously-$30 set of Merino wool socks already has an excellent value, but the new price point is even sweeter.—
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The bakery has two trailers on the property that are used for housing and as a test kitchen for the bakers.—
Verb
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Penske Media owns the Golden Globes, Luminate and major entertainment publications that cover podcasts such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.—
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According to the 2025 annual meeting proxy, Abel owns Berkshire shares currently valued at around $171 million.—
Verb
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Down on the lower level, a guest bedroom with a full bath accommodates visitors.—
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Where To Stay From Rustic cottages to standard rooms, Big Cedar Lodge accommodates families big and small.—
Verb
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When the robot successfully grasps a door handle in simulation, that state is saved.—
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The photo shows Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on one knee as Swift grasps his face.—
Cite this Entry
“Holds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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