| Verb | 1. | hold out - thrust or extend out; "He held out his hand"; "point a finger"; "extend a hand"; "the bee exserted its sting" |
| 2. | hold out - stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something | |
| 3. | hold out - last and be usable; "This dress wore well for almost ten years" | |
| 4. | hold out - wait uncompromisingly for something desirable; "He held out for the dessert and did not touch the cheeses" | |
| 5. | hold out - continue to live; endure or last; "We went without water and food for 3 days"; "These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America"; "The racecar driver lived through several very serious accidents" |