noun
Meaning 1
Alternative spelling of holdout.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
hold out
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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verb
Meaning 2
To hold (something) out; to extend (something) forward.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: literally, transitive
Examples
- He held out his hand, and I grabbed it.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To offer, present (a hope, possibility, opportunity etc.)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
- The prospectus held out the promise of enormous profits to be made.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To wait, or refuse in hopes of getting something better (from a negotiation, etc.)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, often
Examples
- I am holding out for more money.
- How long has he been holding out?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To survive, endure.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
Examples
- How long can they hold out without water?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To withhold something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, usually, with-on
Examples
- You've got a key! Why have you been holding out on me?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To set aside something or save it for later.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- Pack the boxes, but hold out a few blue ones for later.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
thrust or extend out
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- He held out his hand
- point a finger
- extend a hand
- the bee exserted its sting
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exsert, stretch out, put out, extend, stretch forth
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: gesticulate, gesture, motion
Narrower terms: hyperextend
verb
Meaning 9
stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: resist, withstand, stand firm
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defend
Narrower terms: stand out, stand up, outbrave, hold off, stand, remain firm, defy, withstand, hold, hold up
verb
Meaning 10
continue to live through hardship or adversity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- We went without water and food for 3 days
- These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America
- The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents
- how long can a person last without food and water?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: survive, last, live, live on, go, endure, hold up
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: stand up, hold up, hold water, perennate, live out
verb
Meaning 11
wait uncompromisingly for something desirable
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- He held out for the dessert and did not touch the cheeses
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: wait, hold off, hold back
verb
Meaning 12
last and be usable
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- This dress wore well for almost ten years
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wear, endure
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: last, endure
History
Etymology
From hold and out.
Across languages
Translations
62 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bashkir: һоноу (honow) — hold (something) out, extend it forward
- Czech: napřáhnout — hold (something) out, extend it forward
- Czech: podat — hold (something) out, extend it forward
- Czech: natáhnout (ruku) — hold (something) out, extend it forward
- Esperanto: antaŭteni — hold (something) out, extend it forward
- Russian: протянуть (protjanutʹ) — hold (something) out, extend it forward
- Spanish: extender — hold (something) out, extend it forward
- Ulwa (Nicaragua): yûlnaka — hold (something) out, extend it forward
- Chinese Mandarin: 等待 (děngdài) — to wait for something better
- Esperanto: atendi — to wait for something better
- Finnish: odottaa — to wait for something better
- French: attendre — to wait for something better
- German: abwarten — to wait for something better
- German: ausharren — to wait for something better
- German: (beharrlich) warten — to wait for something better
- German: (unbeirrbar) warten — to wait for something better
- Greek: περιμένω (periméno) — to wait for something better
- Icelandic: hinkra — to wait for something better
- Japanese: 待つ (matsu) — to wait for something better
- Norwegian Bokmål: avvente — to wait for something better
- Portuguese: esperar — to wait for something better
- Spanish: esperar — to wait for something better
- Czech: odolávat — endure
- Czech: vydržet — endure
- Czech: vzdorovat — endure
- Finnish: kestää — endure
- Finnish: sinnitellä — endure
- Finnish: selvitä — endure
- French: tenir bon — endure
- German: aushalten — endure
- Icelandic: þrauka — endure
- Italian: resistere — endure
- Italian: sopravvivere — endure
- Japanese: 持ち堪える (mochikotaeru) — endure
- Norwegian Bokmål: holde ut — endure
- Norwegian Nynorsk: halde ut — endure
- Portuguese: prevalecer — endure
- Russian: протянуть (protjanutʹ) — endure
- Spanish: aguantar — endure
- Spanish: resistir — endure
- Swedish: hålla ut — endure
- Dutch: achterhouden — withhold something
- Finnish: pimittää — withhold something
- German: zurückhalten — withhold something
- Icelandic: halda einhverju leyndu — withhold something
- Italian: aspettarsi — withhold something
- Norwegian Bokmål: holde tilbake — withhold something
- Norwegian Nynorsk: halde attende — withhold something
- Norwegian Nynorsk: halde tilbake — withhold something
- Russian: скрыть (skrytʹ) — withhold something
- Russian: утаить (utaitʹ) — withhold something
- Spanish: retener — withhold something
- Czech: odložit — to save something for later
- Czech: dát stranou — to save something for later
- Finnish: säästää — to save something for later
- Finnish: pitää tallella — to save something for later
- German: aufheben — to save something for later
- German: aufsparen — to save something for later
- Icelandic: geyma — to save something for later
- Norwegian Bokmål: holde av — to save something for later
- Norwegian Nynorsk: halde av — to save something for later
- Spanish: guardar — to save something for later