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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding pattern
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.
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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
Anxiety about the election has forced businesses of all sizes into an uncomfortable holding pattern that ultimately could negatively impact their bottom lines and the US economy as a whole, experts say.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holding pattern 
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
Anxiety about the election has forced businesses of all sizes into an uncomfortable holding pattern that ultimately could negatively impact their bottom lines and the US economy as a whole, experts say.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holding pattern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding pattern
Noun
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On Friday night, in an eventual 98-89 Dallas Mavericks victory, Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic and Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall and PJ Washington got into a late-game clash, and all three were later hit with suspensions for their roles.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
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Oh and by the way, the ACC said in a statement announcing the suspension of the entire crew (including the replay official), a runner’s knee was down and there was an additional penalty on Miami that should have been called.Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This delay adds to a string of setbacks for New Glenn, which has been in development for a decade.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
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Complicating the court’s deliberations is that the nine-member court currently only has eight justices, due to a delay in filling vacancies left by retired justices.Helen Regan, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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As captivating as the suspense is the provocative exploration of working with a helpful (yet annoying) colleague who’s not quite human.Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
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This conceit, together with the slow-burn suspense of Teddy and Jeremy opening up to each other, gives the action interest and tenderness that compensate for its straining of credulity.—Dan Stahl (DR2; through Feb. 2.) Dance Aparna Ramaswamy.The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Bottom Line Ultimately, though, the designers say that the fluid decorating process is about creating a house that feels like home—and that's always worth the wait.Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025
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For the sound, for the visuals, the 4K disc will be worth the wait.Erik Kain, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Those include cold storage and logistic giant Lineage’s $17.8 billion float and private equity group CVC's $15 billion listing.Iain Martin, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
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Actually, the whole system through covid was able to get more cold storage.Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 16 Nov. 2024
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 17 Jan. 2025.
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