hold on

verb

held on; holding on; holds on

intransitive verb

1

a

: to maintain a condition or position : persist

b

: to maintain a grasp on something : hang on

2

: to await something (such as a telephone connection) desired or requested

broadly : wait

Phrases

hold on to

: to maintain possession of or adherence to

Synonyms

• abide
• bide
• continue
• endure
• hold up
• keep up
• last
• perdure
• persist
• remain
• run on

Examples of hold on in a Sentence

the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages

hold on a minute—it's not your turn

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, the third anniversary of the start of the Russia-Ukraine war will be held on February 24. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025

The event will be held on Jan. 11 at the Deland Road & Bridge Office, 165 Deerfoot Road. —Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2025

Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2025

On April 2, John F. Condon, a New Yorker from the Bronx who’d offered to act as a go-between for Lindbergh and the kidnappers, delivered $50,000 of Lindbergh’s gold certificates to a man who told him Charlie was being held on a boat in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

hold on

verb

1

: to keep a hold

2

: wait entry 1 sense 1a