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

Trump pleaded not guilty in 2023 to 40 criminal counts -- including violations of nine separate federal laws -- for allegedly holding on to classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021 and thwarting investigators' efforts to retrieve the documents from his Mar-a-Lago estate. —Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2025

Another hearing will also be held on Wednesday in front of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

The memo also said that that the hold on new contracts continues. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025

Festivities are held on multiple days over the course of the week, but Phil usually makes his prediction by Monday morning. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 29 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