hold water

phrase

Synonyms of hold waternext
: to stand up under criticism or analysis
Their version of events doesn't hold water.

Examples of hold water in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The foliage and stem system provide extra insulation and can help hold water in the winter months. — Macie Stump, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2026 Hot water at the handwash sink was measured above proper hot holding water temperature. — Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 These wetlands, connected to the river, act as natural reservoirs that absorb and hold water, especially when the river swells with meltwater or heavy rain. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 People were milling about in flip-flops, holding water jugs, smoking cigarettes—little to do, nowhere to go. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hold water

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hold water was in 1652

Rhymes for hold water

See All Rhymes for hold water

Browse Nearby Words

hold up one's head
hold water
hold with
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20water. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hold water

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hold water

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All