hold on

verb

Definition of hold onnext
1
as in to remain
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wait
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something hold on a minute—it's not your turn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hold on The Canadiens were in Philadelphia on Thursday to face the Flyers coming off three straight losses but, despite that, still holding on to the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. — Arpon Basu, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 The community is asked to hold on to found animals for a minimum of four days. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2025 He is currently being held on a $105,000 bond, according to local NBC affiliate KETK-TV. — Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025 For most of the 2000s, arXiv couldn’t hold on to more than a few developers. — Sheon Han, Wired News, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hold on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold on
  1. remain
  2. wait
  3. continue
  4. stay
  5. last
Verb
  • But despite Tuesday’s result, Musk remains undeterred in his political ambitions.
    — Will Steakin, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The official said Canada and Mexico were omitted because tariffs the U.S. previously imposed on both countries remain in effect.
    — Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of remain
Verb
  • Most waited until the following month to restore access, however, fearing repercussions.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Those waiting for green cards, like Taylor, can also be removed.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of wait
Verb
  • Fallout continues after President Donald Trump's unveiling of severe tariffs against virtually all U.S. trading partners.
    — Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Pika continues to push the boundaries of AI video with tools that blend nostalgia, realism, and personalization.
    — Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of continue
Verb
  • Afterward, nearly all of the special event's details stayed under wraps until the couple began sharing snippets of the day through different projects.
    — Emy LaCroix, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Even at the high end, Cooper believes this one-time expense could save money in the long run because every month a borrower stays delinquent, the government risks losing money in unpaid interest and eventual defaults.
    — Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of stay
Verb
  • Such separations, which have even involved infants and toddlers, can cause lasting psychological harm to children and irreparable damage to their brains, according to a report by the American Psychological Association.
    — George B. Sánchez-Tello, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The sides were supposed to begin negotiations in early February on the ceasefire’s next phase, in which Hamas was to release the remaining 59 hostages — 35 of them believed to be dead — in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.
    — Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of last

Browse Nearby Words

hold off (on)
hold on
hold one's breath
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20on. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of hold on for Spanish Speakers

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