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

Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. —Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024

The indictment adds three new counts to the weapons charges Routh is currently being held on. —Russell Lewis, NPR, 25 Sep. 2024

Don’t miss the large open-air market, held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. —Robin Allison Davis, Travel + Leisure, 24 Sep. 2024

The push from faculty highlights how, months after police cleared pro-Palestinian encampments at universities, the fallout has continued on various campuses, with university officials implementing new protest rules and students grappling with ongoing suspensions and holds on their records. —Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2024

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