From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhold out phrasal verb1 HOPE hold out something to think or say that something is possible or likely to happen, especially something goodnot hold out much hope/hold out little hope Negotiators aren’t holding out much hope of a peaceful settlement.hold out the prospect/promise of something alternative methods which hold out the promise of improved health2 FINISH/USE ALL OF somethingif a supply of something holds out, there is still some left Water supplies won’t hold out much longer.3 DEFENDto continue to successfully defend a place that is being attacked The rebels held out for another night but then fresh forces arrived.4 to try to prevent yourself from doing something that someone is trying to force you to do against I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out against their relentless questioning. → hold→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
hold out the prospect/promise of something• So too the yawning depths of the wave, even while threatening annihilation, hold out the promise of rebirth.• It holds out the promise of swifter verdicts.• Although Leapor accepts that many women are guilty of inconstancy and immoderate behaviour, she none the less holds out the prospect of transformation.hold against• But still she doubted her ability to hold out against him.• You can not will yourself to hold out against reality.• All they have to do is to hold out against substandard systems and apply pragmatic criteria in the face of technical jargon.• The workers held out for several months against the closure of the mine, but they were eventually defeated.• Only Rugby Union holds out against the commercial tide despite widespread speculation about covert payments to players.• If you just try to defend and hold out against them, it wears you down. 