hang on

verb

hung on; hanging on; hangs on

intransitive verb

1

: to keep hold : hold on to something

2

: to persist tenaciously

a cold that hung on all spring

3

: hold on sense 2

Phrases

hang on to

: to hold, grip, or keep tenaciously

Examples of hang on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But most were hanging on every word to a) understand the potential of AI going forward, b) get a feel for the sustainability of AI demand, and c) assess whether Nvidia is moving too fast for its customers. —Karl Freund, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

Chill will hang on in the Northeast Looking ahead, later in March and into April, parts of the Northeast, Great Lakes and Northwest may skew a little cooler than average, according to the Weather Company. —Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025

Others, less so; a couple of these men have been hanging on to this tradition, and their time away from other things, family or otherwise, with a certain amount of guilt attached. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025

In the elevator vestibule, a set of circa 1740 botanical prints by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann hangs on walls covered in a Fabricut wool. —David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hang on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

hang on

verb

1

: to keep hold or possession especially tightly

hang on or you'll fall

hang on to your money

2

: to continue stubbornly

a cold that hung on all spring