Synonyms for hold

Synonyms for (noun) hold

Synonyms: grasp, grip, hold, clasp, clench, clutch, clutches

Definition: the act of grasping

Usage: he released his clasp on my arm; he has a strong grip for an old man; she kept a firm hold on the railing

Similar words: prehension, taking hold, seizing, grasping

Definition: the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles)


Synonyms: cargo area, cargo deck, cargo hold, storage area, hold

Definition: the space in a ship or aircraft for storing cargo

Similar words: enclosure

Definition: a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose


Synonyms: handgrip, handle, grip, hold

Definition: the appendage to an object that is designed to be held in order to use or move it

Usage: he grabbed the hammer by the handle; it was an old briefcase but it still had a good grip

Similar words: appendage

Definition: a part that is joined to something larger


Synonyms: hold, keep

Definition: a cell in a jail or prison

Similar words: cell, jail cell, prison cell

Definition: a room where a prisoner is kept


Synonyms: hold

Definition: a stronghold

Similar words: stronghold, fastness

Definition: a strongly fortified defensive structure


Synonyms: hold

Definition: power by which something or someone is affected or dominated

Usage: he has a hold over them

Similar words: control

Definition: power to direct or determine

Usage: under control


Synonyms: hold, grasp, appreciation

Definition: understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something

Usage: he has a good grasp of accounting practices

Similar words: savvy, apprehension, discernment, understanding

Definition: the cognitive condition of someone who understands

Usage: he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect


Synonyms: hold, detention, custody, detainment

Definition: a state of being confined (usually for a short time)

Usage: his detention was politically motivated; the prisoner is on hold; he is in the custody of police

Similar words: confinement

Definition: the state of being confined

Usage: he was held in confinement


Synonyms: delay, postponement, time lag, hold, wait

Definition: time during which some action is awaited

Usage: instant replay caused too long a delay; he ordered a hold in the action

Similar words: pause, break, intermission, interruption, suspension

Definition: a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something


Synonyms for (verb) hold

Synonyms: hold

Definition: keep from exhaling or expelling

Usage: hold your breath

Similar words: keep, keep back, restrain, hold back

Definition: keep under control; keep in check

Usage: suppress a smile; Keep your temper; keep your cool


Synonyms: hold

Definition: remain committed to

Usage: I hold to these ideas

Similar words: think, believe, conceive, consider

Definition: judge or regard; look upon; judge

Usage: I think he is very smart; I believe her to be very smart; I think that he is her boyfriend; The racist conceives such people to be inferior


Synonyms: hold

Definition: assert or affirm

Usage: Rousseau's philosophy holds that people are inherently good

Similar words: swan, swear, verify, affirm, assert, aver, avow

Definition: to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true

Usage: Before God I swear I am innocent


Synonyms: deem, take for, hold, view as

Definition: keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

Usage: take for granted; view as important; hold these truths to be self-evident; I hold him personally responsible

Similar words: reckon, regard, consider, view, see

Definition: deem to be

Usage: She views this quite differently from me; I consider her to be shallow; I don't see the situation quite as negatively as you do


Synonyms: hold

Definition: hold the attention of

Usage: The soprano held the audience; This story held our interest; She can hold an audience spellbound

Similar words: charm, captivate, capture, catch, enamor, enamour, enchant, entrance, fascinate, beguile, bewitch, becharm, trance

Definition: attract; cause to be enamored

Usage: She captured all the men's hearts


Synonyms: hold, declare, adjudge

Definition: declare to be

Usage: She was declared incompetent; judge held that the defendant was innocent

Similar words: evaluate, judge, pass judgment

Definition: form a critical opinion of

Usage: I cannot judge some works of modern art; How do you evaluate this grant proposal? We shouldn't pass judgment on other people


Synonyms: bind, hold, obligate, oblige

Definition: bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted

Usage: He's held by a contract; I'll hold you by your promise

Similar words: relate

Definition: have or establish a relationship to

Usage: She relates well to her peers


Synonyms: guard, hold, defend

Definition: protect against a challenge or attack

Usage: Hold that position behind the trees!; Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks

Similar words: protect

Definition: shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage

Usage: Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain


Synonyms: hold

Definition: aim, point, or direct

Usage: Hold the fire extinguisher directly on the flames

Similar words: aim, direct, take, take aim, train

Definition: point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

Usage: Please don't aim at your little brother!; He trained his gun on the burglar; Don't train your camera on the women; Take a swipe at one's opponent


Synonyms: carry, hold

Definition: drink alcohol without showing ill effects

Usage: He can hold his liquor; he had drunk more than he could carry

Similar words: booze, fuddle, drink

Definition: consume alcohol

Usage: We were up drinking all night


Synonyms: hold, confine, restrain

Definition: to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement

Usage: This holds the local until the express passengers change trains; About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade; The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center; The terrorists held the journalists for ransom

Similar words: incapacitate, disable, disenable

Definition: make unable to perform a certain action

Usage: disable this command on your computer


Synonyms: hold

Definition: cover as for protection against noise or smell

Usage: She held her ears when the jackhammer started to operate; hold one's nose

Similar words: cover

Definition: provide with a covering or cause to be covered

Usage: cover her face with a handkerchief; cover the child with a blanket; cover the grave with flowers


Synonyms: make, have, hold, give, throw

Definition: organize or be responsible for

Usage: hold a reception; have, throw, or make a party; give a course

Similar words: direct

Definition: be in charge of


Synonyms: entertain, hold, harbor, harbour, nurse

Definition: maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

Usage: bear a grudge; entertain interesting notions; harbor a resentment

Similar words: feel, experience

Definition: undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

Usage: She felt resentful; He felt regret


Synonyms: arrest, hold, halt

Definition: cause to stop

Usage: Halt the engines; Arrest the progress; halt the presses

Similar words: stop

Definition: cause to stop

Usage: stop a car; stop the thief


Synonyms: keep back, hold, hold back, retain

Definition: secure and keep for possible future use or application

Usage: The landlord retained the security deposit; I reserve the right to disagree

Similar words: hold on, keep

Definition: retain possession of

Usage: Can I keep my old stuffed animals?; She kept her maiden name after she married


Synonyms: bear, hold

Definition: have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices

Usage: She bears the title of Duchess; He held the governorship for almost a decade

Similar words: hold, have, have got

Definition: have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense

Usage: She has $1,000 in the bank; He has got two beautiful daughters; She holds a Master's degree from Harvard


Synonyms: hold

Definition: take and maintain control over, often by violent means

Usage: The dissatisfied students held the President's office for almost a week

Similar words: command, control

Definition: exercise authoritative control or power over

Usage: control the budget; Command the military forces


Synonyms: hold

Definition: keep from departing

Usage: Hold the taxi; Hold the horse

Similar words: prevent, keep

Definition: stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state

Usage: We must prevent the cancer from spreading; His snoring kept me from falling asleep; Keep the child from eating the marbles


Synonyms: book, reserve, hold

Definition: arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance

Usage: reserve me a seat on a flight; The agent booked tickets to the show for the whole family; please hold a table at Maxim's

Similar words: bespeak, call for, request, quest

Definition: express the need or desire for; ask for

Usage: She requested an extra bed in her room; She called for room service


Synonyms: contain, control, curb, hold, hold in, check, moderate

Definition: lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits

Usage: moderate your alcohol intake; hold your tongue; hold your temper; control your anger

Similar words: keep, keep back, restrain, hold back

Definition: keep under control; keep in check

Usage: suppress a smile; Keep your temper; keep your cool


Synonyms: hold

Definition: stop dealing with

Usage: hold all calls to the President's office while he is in a meeting

Similar words: remit, postpone, prorogue, put off, put over, set back, shelve, defer, table, hold over

Definition: hold back to a later time

Usage: let's postpone the exam


Synonyms: hold, prevail, obtain

Definition: be valid, applicable, or true

Usage: This theory still holds

Similar words: be, exist

Definition: have an existence, be extant

Usage: Is there a God?


Synonyms: apply, go for, hold

Definition: be pertinent or relevant or applicable

Usage: The same laws apply to you!; This theory holds for all irrational numbers; The same rules go for everyone

Similar words: concern, bear on, come to, refer, relate, touch, touch on, have-to doe with, pertain

Definition: be relevant to

Usage: There were lots of questions referring to her talk; My remark pertained to your earlier comments


Synonyms: hold

Definition: remain in a certain state, position, or condition

Usage: The weather held; They held on the road and kept marching

Similar words: proceed, continue, keep, go along, go on

Definition: continue a certain state, condition, or activity

Usage: Keep on working!; We continued to work into the night; Keep smiling; We went on working until well past midnight


Synonyms: hold, carry, contain, bear

Definition: contain or hold; have within

Usage: The jar carries wine; The canteen holds fresh water; This can contains water

Similar words: include

Definition: have as a part, be made up out of

Usage: The list includes the names of many famous writers


Synonyms: hold, take, contain

Definition: be capable of holding or containing

Usage: This box won't take all the items; The flask holds one gallon

Similar words: be

Definition: have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)

Usage: John is rich; This is not a good answer


Synonyms: withstand, defy, hold, hold up

Definition: resist or confront with resistance

Usage: The politician defied public opinion; The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear; The bridge held

Similar words: withstand, stand firm, hold out, resist

Definition: stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something


Synonyms: hold

Definition: have as a major characteristic

Usage: The novel holds many surprises; The book holds in store much valuable advise

Similar words: be

Definition: have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)

Usage: John is rich; This is not a good answer


Visual thesaurus for hold