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hold out

Dictionary definition · hold out

verb

  1. thrust or extend out"He held out his hand"
  2. stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something
  3. last and be usable"This dress wore well for almost ten years"
  4. wait uncompromisingly for something desirable"He held out for the dessert and did not touch the cheeses"
  5. continue to live and avoid dying"We went without water and food for 3 days"

Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).