HOLDS OUT Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

holds out

verb

present tense third-person singular of hold out

as in survives

to continue to operate or to meet one's needs we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of holds out Although the studio holds out hope that awards buzz could help the film have some legs as audiences discover it, critics have been divided, with Digger holding a 51 percent approval from reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026 The woman pushes her sunglasses on top of her head and holds out a hand. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 Havelock neither retreats to the closet nor holds out hope for resolution via vigilante justice. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Wilson holds out hope that federal lawmakers will amend their law to allow hemp sales to continue, though any such change faces an uphill battle. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 Upon arrival, a staffer holds out a tray of tropical popsicles as a first touch of hospitality. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Or Gonzalez fully holds out and risks fines. — Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 29 May 2026 No matter how many shows you guys do, his voice just holds out. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2026 The owner who holds out for yesterday’s pricing can discover that extended vacancy carries a cost that is far greater than a small concession would have been. — Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 2 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds out

Verb

Tina Mesmer Griffith survives Tina leapt from the window and rolled to safety, breaking her shoulder in the fall.

— Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026
The pilot that dazzles and the agent that survives production are rarely the same thing.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of survives

Verb

Exactly how long this period lasts can vary widely from card to card.

— Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 14 Oct. 2026
Whether the trend lasts may depend on whether shoppers keep enjoying the products themselves or lose interest once the excitement around each release fades.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of lasts

Verb

Instead, silence frequently prevails on the air, if not on social media.

— Mike Sando, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
The site to which Shift is specific is not just the farm in King City but the field of historical preservation, where the conundrum of stasis versus passing time prevails.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of prevails

Verb

That habit separates software that only demos well from software that holds up in real workflows.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Playing surface holds up After concerns about the playing surface this week, the grass field at the Maracana appeared to hold up pretty well.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026