hang on

verb

hung on; hanging on; hangs on

intransitive verb

1

: to keep hold : hold on to something

2

: to persist tenaciously

a cold that hung on all spring

3

: hold on sense 2

I'll get the answer if you can hang on.

see also:

hang on to

Examples of hang on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On a stage in front of hundreds of cricket fans hanging on his every word and in a sit-down interview with the Bay Area News Group, Ashwin mentioned the region’s technological brilliance as a key selling point. —Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 23 June 2026

There’s one last piece of wood that the survivor is hanging on to, and Daniel is going to keep hanging on to his journalistic ethics. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 June 2026

Then, in the nightcap, Haaland tallied twice and Norway hung on to a 3-2 victory over Senegal. —David K. Li, NBC news, 23 June 2026

Investors hung on his sometimes inscrutable observations. —Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hang on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

hang on

verb

1

: to keep hold or possession especially tightly

hang on or you'll fall

hang on to your money

2

: to continue stubbornly

a cold that hung on all spring