Holds onto

Latest answer — August 30, 2026

72 Across

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Clue explained

KEEPS is the third-person singular present form of keep, meaning “holds onto” or retains.

Clue type:
Word form
A person holding a box of keepsakes.

WSJ Crossword

This clue's Sunday, August 30, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Sound from a censor
  2. 6Devil’s domain
  3. 10Whole kit and caboodle
  4. 13“Bodak Yellow” rapper ___ B
  5. 14Angelina of “Maleficent”
  6. 15The Beatles’ “___ Loser”
  7. 16Baptism ceremony
  8. 18Many a time
  9. 19Sounded sheepish?
  10. 20___ Lama
  11. 22Egg outline
  12. 25Degree conferral ceremony
  13. 28Floppy cap
  14. 30Taylor-Joy of “The Queen’s Gambit”
  15. 31Londoner’s lang.
  16. 32Sushi condiment
  17. 36“Doggone!”
  18. 40“Amen!” (and a homophonic hint to 16-, 25-, 50- and 61-Across)
  19. 43Captain Hook’s sidekick
  20. 44Deliberately taunted
  21. 45George Gershwin’s lyricist brother
  22. 46Ski lift type
  23. 48Oregon’s capital
  24. 50Coming-of-age ceremony
  25. 56Prez’s subordinate
  26. 57Balm-yielding plants
  27. 58Dwelling
  28. 60Drain of energy
  29. 61Birthday ceremony
  30. 67Middle of summer?
  31. 68Goads on
  32. 69Heated in the microwave, informally
  33. 70Tofu source
  34. 71Grandson of Adam and Eve
  35. 72Holds onto

Down

  1. 1Stealthy inclusion in an email
  2. 2___-di-dah
  3. 3Goof
  4. 4Safe to consume
  5. 5Site of a skewed tower
  6. 6Accord or Civic
  7. 7Quarterback Manning
  8. 8Vietnam Memorial architect Maya
  9. 9Gym session that may lead to sore quads
  10. 10Garlicky spread
  11. 11Hilarious, in texts
  12. 12Language of many mottos
  13. 14Do some heckling
  14. 17Graffiti signature
  15. 21Arcade game pioneer
  16. 22Follows orders
  17. 23Cobra’s poison
  18. 24Join the debate
  19. 26Blot gently
  20. 27Come together
  21. 29What the hand sign for peace might also mean
  22. 33Plate appearance
  23. 34“Outlander” network
  24. 35Tuna variety
  25. 37Nimble
  26. 38One more than 29-Down
  27. 39Philatelist’s specimen
  28. 41“Capeesh?”
  29. 42Hwys.
  30. 47Creamy soup
  31. 49Many a Monopoly property
  32. 50Diamond corners
  33. 51San Antonio landmark
  34. 52___-turvy
  35. 53Wind indicators
  36. 54Fundamentals
  37. 55Gardener’s tool
  38. 59Cold and damp
  39. 62Catering container
  40. 63“Where did ___ wrong?”
  41. 64Scratch (out)
  42. 65Workout unit
  43. 66TV spots

The answer to “Holds onto” in the Wall Street Journal crossword is KEEPS — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on August 30, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 72-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Holds onto” answer

KEEPS (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is KEEPS.

What does KEEPS mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of KEEPS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(verb)

  • have or retain possession of
  • cause to continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc.
  • provide for the sustenance of (someone)

When else has “Holds onto” appeared?

Wall Street Journal reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 30, 2026 (most recent) → KEEPS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Holds onto”?

The answer is KEEPS, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on August 30, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Holds onto”?

5 letters: KEEPS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the Wall Street Journal crossword on August 30, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 72-Across.

Can “Holds onto” have a different answer?

Yes — Wall Street Journal sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WSJ answers?

The full grid for August 30, 2026 is on the WSJ answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Wall Street Journal Crossword is published by The Wall Street Journal; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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