1
as in remaining
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state
the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in waiting
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
hold on a minute—it's not your turn
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in holding up
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of holding on
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
During their conversation, France speaks about holding on tightly to his little ones.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
BofA doesn’t project any scenarios in the event of a recession, but with the economy stalling out for job-hoppers, the workforce is in white-knuckle mode, holding on tight.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
Howe is still talking about the possibility of holding on to Isak and reintegrating him into the Newcastle squad.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
The Miami secondary settled down in team periods, though, and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was often holding on to the ball or checking it down.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
One of the photos featured Justin sitting in the passenger seat of a car while holding on to Jack's feet, with the toddler standing on his father's lap.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
During their conversation, France speaks about holding on tightly to his little ones.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
BofA doesn’t project any scenarios in the event of a recession, but with the economy stalling out for job-hoppers, the workforce is in white-knuckle mode, holding on tight.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
Howe is still talking about the possibility of holding on to Isak and reintegrating him into the Newcastle squad.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
The Miami secondary settled down in team periods, though, and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was often holding on to the ball or checking it down.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding on
Verb
-
Becca Crandall and Bentley Rosser of Beck Cleaning and Organization recommend wiping down the inside and outside of your trash cans with disinfectant wipes to remove any remaining food particles.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The fragile island is one of the last remaining ecological treasures on the planet to be flipped into a resource frontier.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Malcolm was right there waiting for me out by the pool, with three bottles of champagne in a party cooler.—
T. Coraghessan Boyle,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The Lebanese restaurant was a hit in the neighborhood from the outset and was perpetually packed, with crowds of people waiting for a table.—
Shivani Vora,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There's no point in continuing to fight anymore.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Even as the macroenvironment signals uncertainty, Materazzo said the company is focused on continuing to deliver on its legacy and invest in its brand.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Combining wool for softness and rayon for lasting quality, the Haren rug brings serenity to your space—the subtle texture almost reminds us of a zen garden.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
16 Sep. 2025
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The Builders of the Internet Era Honorees include major names like Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, NPR, and Adobe — each recognized for their lasting cultural impact, creative innovation and consistent achievement at the Webbys over the years.—
Ian Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holding on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20on. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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