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hold - thesaurus entry
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90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

verb
  1. 1
    to carry something using your hands or arms

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    To carry something or someone: carry, hold, bring, haul, bear, lift, shoulder, be burdened with something, hump, schlep... more
    1. a.
      to carry something using another part of your body

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To carry something or someone: carry, hold, bring, haul, bear, lift, shoulder, be burdened with something, hump, schlep... more
    2. b.
      to carry another person

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To carry something or someone: carry, hold, bring, haul, bear, lift, shoulder, be burdened with something, hump, schlep... more
  3. 3
    to put a part of your body into a particular position

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    To change your position: balance, bend, bestride, bow, burrow, cower, crane, crook, crouch, double over... more
  4. 4
    to put your arms around someone because you love them or because they are unhappy

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    Expressing affection physically: kiss, hug, pat, caress, cuddle, hold, embrace, nuzzle, ruffle... more
  5. 5
    to have something inside

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    To contain something: include, contents, contain, fit, catch, house, harbor, accommodate, hold, have... more
  6. 6
    to be able to fit an amount of something inside

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    To contain something: include, contents, contain, fit, catch, house, harbor, accommodate, hold, have... more
  7. 7
    to have something, for example a job

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    To have a particular quality or thing: seem, tend, possess, wear, have, bear, rate, grow in, bristle with... more
    1. a.
      to have an opinion about something

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To have an opinion or opinions: think, believe in, say, consider, hold, incline, reckon, adhere to, have a mind of your own, know best... more
    2. b.
      formal to own money or property

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To own something, or to be owned: belong to, own, possess, have, keep, hold, have in, got, sorted... more
    3. c.
      formal to have a document that allows you to do something

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To own something, or to be owned: belong to, own, possess, have, keep, hold, have in, got, sorted... more
  8. 8
    if a promise or offer holds, it still exists

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    To continue to exist or happen: go on, go along, persist, live on, outlive, remain, live, proceed, hold out, bubble... more
    1. a.
      to stay or keep something at a particular level

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To remain the same, or to keep something the same: maintain, withstand, stabilize, standardize, level, stay, hold, jog along, preserve, regularize... more
    2. b.
      to continue to support a weight without breaking or being damaged

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To carry something or someone: carry, hold, bring, haul, bear, lift, shoulder, be burdened with something, hump, schlep... more
    3. c.
      if your luck or the weather holds, it continues to be good

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To remain the same, or to keep something the same: maintain, withstand, stabilize, standardize, level, stay, hold, jog along, preserve, regularize... more
    4. d.
      to continue to play or sing a note without stopping

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To sing: sing, sing along, croon, chant, sing out, burst/break into song, harmonize, serenade, vocalize, carry a tune... more
    5. e.
      to stay in the same position, for example when you are exercising

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To do physical exercise as a way of keeping fit: burn off, exercise, firm up, hold, jog, limber up, loosen up, sculpt, warm up, work out... more
  9. 9
    to keep information, for example on a computer

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    To keep something: set aside, collect, store up, reserve, stockpile, keep, save, hoard, retain... more
  10. 10
    to not give something that someone wants to another person

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    To keep something: set aside, collect, store up, reserve, stockpile, keep, save, hoard, retain... more
  14. 14
    if you hold a meeting or event, you organize it

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    To organize an event: organize, prepare, plan, arrange, set up, stage, orchestrate, choreograph, hold, convene... more
    1. a.
      if a meeting or event is held in a particular place or at a particular time, it takes place there at that time

      *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

      To organize an event: organize, prepare, plan, arrange, set up, stage, orchestrate, choreograph, hold, convene... more
  15. 15
    to wait in order to speak to someone on the telephone. You can also say that you hold the line

    *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of hold*

    Using a telephone: answer, busy, busy signal, call, call back, call in, call up, caller, cut off, dial... more

phrases

These are synonyms and/or related words for hold in the American English Thesaurus. View synonyms and/or related words for hold in the British English Thesaurus.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

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dray

a type of cart pulled by a horse and used in the past for carrying barrels of beer

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conflict mineral

a mineral which is mined in a place where there is armed conflict, and sold to help pay for weapons

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