1
as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
the couple has been trapped in this holding pattern for six months, as adoption officials create more red tape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 holding pattern
The bill had been held in a procedural holding pattern until bill sponsor Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, motioned to add it to the next available calendar.
—
Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 22 Apr. 2024
One by open-source intelligence analyst MT Anderson said Russian ships, likely the Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Grigorovich frigates, the Novorossiysk Kilo-class submarine and oiler Vyazma were in a holding pattern five miles west of the port.
—Brendan Cole, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Finding a new job is tough, but employees generally can collect paychecks through this holding pattern.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024
Athletic department budget projections are in a holding pattern with the NCAA and major college conferences considering a possible settlement of an antitrust lawsuit.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for holding pattern 
Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 22 Apr. 2024
One by open-source intelligence analyst MT Anderson said Russian ships, likely the Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Grigorovich frigates, the Novorossiysk Kilo-class submarine and oiler Vyazma were in a holding pattern five miles west of the port.
—Brendan Cole, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Finding a new job is tough, but employees generally can collect paychecks through this holding pattern.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024
Athletic department budget projections are in a holding pattern with the NCAA and major college conferences considering a possible settlement of an antitrust lawsuit.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for holding pattern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding pattern
Noun
-
President Trump voluntarily dismissed his legal battle with X regarding the social media platform's permanent suspension of the president's account following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.—
Axios,
Axios,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Read More: How Christian Groups Are Responding to Trump's Foreign-Aid Freeze TIME spoke to humanitarian workers—many of whom asked not to be named for fear of reprisals to their employers—about the implications of the suspension.—
Belinda Luscombe,
TIME,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
On Monday, the airport saw nearly 400 cancellations and 375 delays.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The reversal decision, which Oliver had been advocating for, was made after data analysis didn’t reveal a significant increase in Max viewership after implementing the delay, sources said.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a great twist at the end, and lots of suspense.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Are Any of the Single’s Inferno Season 4 Couples Still Together? To preserve the suspense of Single’s Inferno, the contestants are not allowed to share anything about their dating life on social media.—
Kayti Burt,
TIME,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In the coming months, Niccol plans to slash 30% of Starbucks’ menu to simplify its offerings, reduce wait times and improve customer experience.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN,
9 Feb. 2025
-
There’s hope for, within the next two years, a test that will reduce the wait time to three to four hours.—
Jim Robbin,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
However, some lily varieties grown in warmer zones will benefit from removing the bulbs from the ground or planter and placing them in cold storage for a time before replanting.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Jan. 2025
-
The Biden administration collaborated with private retail chains to build up cold storage and distribution capacity.—
Mark Zachary Taylor,
The Conversation,
15 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near holding pattern
Cite this Entry
“Holding pattern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20pattern. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share