hold - Thesaurus Synonyms and Word Suggestions

verb

To put one's arms around affectionately: clasp, embrace, enfold, hug, press, squeeze. Slang: clinch. Archaic: bosom, clip ², embosom. See touch
To sustain the weight of: bear, carry, support, uphold. See support
To keep in custody: detain. See free, law
To compel, as the attention, interest, or imagination, of: arrest, catch up, enthrall, fascinate, grip, mesmerize, rivet, spellbind, transfix. Slang: grab. See excite
To be filled by: contain, have. See include
To have the room or capacity for: accommodate, contain. See full
To have and maintain in one's possession: hold back, keep, keep back, reserve, retain, withhold. See keep
To have at one's disposal: boast, command, enjoy, have, possess. See owned
To have the use or benefit of: enjoy, have, possess. See owned
To control, restrict, or arrest: bit ², brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold back, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep, keep back, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain. See restraint
To keep at one's disposal: have, own, possess, retain. See keep
To have an opinion: believe, consider, deem, opine, think. Informal: figure, judge. Idiom: be of the opinion. See opinion
To put into words positively and with conviction: affirm, allege, argue, assert, asseverate, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, say, state. Idiom: have it. See affirm
To view in a certain way: believe, feel, sense, think. See opinion
To prove valid under scrutiny. Also used with up: prove out, stand up. Informal: wash. Idioms: hold water, pass muster, ring true. See true
To organize and carry out (an activity): give, have, stage. See control, planned

phrasal verb

hold back

To have and maintain in one's possession: hold, keep, keep back, reserve, retain, withhold. See keep
To interfere with the progress of: bog (down), encumber, hinder, impede, obstruct. Idiom: get in the way of. See help, open
To hold (something requiring an outlet) in check: burke, choke (back), gag, hold down, hush (up), muffle, quench, repress, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, throttle. Informal: sit on or upon . See restraint
To control, restrict, or arrest: bit ², brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep, keep back, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain. See restraint

phrasal verb

hold down

To hold (something requiring an outlet) in check: burke, choke (back), gag, hold back, hush (up), muffle, quench, repress, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, throttle. Informal: sit on or upon . See restraint
To control, restrict, or arrest: bit ², brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold back, hold in, inhibit, keep, keep back, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain. See restraint

phrasal verb

hold in

To control, restrict, or arrest: bit ², brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold back, hold down, inhibit, keep, keep back, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain. See restraint

phrasal verb

hold off

To put off until a later time: adjourn, defer ¹, delay, hold up, postpone, remit, shelve, stay ¹, suspend, table, waive. Informal: wait. Idiom: put on ice. See do
To hold oneself back: abstain, forbear, keep, refrain, withhold. See restraint

phrasal verb

hold out

To be in existence or in a certain state for an indefinitely long time: abide, continue, endure, go on, last ², persist, remain, stay ¹. See continue

phrasal verb

hold up

To put off until a later time: adjourn, defer ¹, delay, hold off, postpone, remit, shelve, stay ¹, suspend, table, waive. Informal: wait. Idiom: put on ice. See do
To cause to be later or slower than expected or desired: delay, detain, hang up, lag, retard, set back, slow (down or up), stall ². See help, time
To take property or possessions from (a person or company, for example) unlawfully and usually forcibly: rob, stick up. Slang: heist, knock off. See crimes, give
To withstand stress or difficulty: bear up, endure, stand up. See continue

phrasal verb

hold with

To be favorably disposed toward: approve, countenance, favor. Informal: go for. Idiom: take kindly to. See praise

noun

An act or means of holding something: clasp, clench, clutch ¹, grasp, grip. Sports: grapple. See keep
A strong or powerful influence: grasp, grip. See affect
Firm control: grasp, grip. See control
Intellectual hold: apprehension, comprehension, grasp, grip, understanding. Informal: savvy. See knowledge

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Thesaurus: hold