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hold 1 of 2

verb

ˈhōld

Definition of hold next

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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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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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 contain

to have within the mysterious chest held an ancient book on magic spells and potions

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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 accommodate

to make or have room for the couple needed to rent a hall that would hold 300 people

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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 consider

to think of in a particular way held to be the best blueberry pies in the state

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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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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

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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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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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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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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outside

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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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

Examples of hold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In another, the women of the family smiled for a selfie, with Everly holding her baby sister as their mom snapped the shot. —

Raven Brunner, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2024 The latest medal count: Entering Sunday, the U.S. held the lead in the medal count with 61 (14 golds, 24 silvers, 23 bronze), although China led the gold medal count with 16. —

Rachel G Bowers, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2024

Noun

But for some people, choosing to put their hookups and love life on hold can be just as fulfilling—and celibacy spells are definitely having a moment. —

Jenna Ryu, SELF, 2 Aug. 2024 The knife-edge decision saw five members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee vote to reduce the rate, while four wanted to keep it on hold. —

Hanna Ziady, CNN, 1 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hold

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hold.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.