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

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 Still, the Bellator champion was able to retain and hold on to his title and remain undefeated. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 The inventor of Bitcoin famously held on to 1.1 million coins — or 5% of the 21 million Bitcoins that will ever be mined, according to the protocols laid out in the white paper. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 19 Oct. 2024 In-person absentee voting is also held on certain days in the two weeks leading up to Election Day. Staff, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024 Jimenez is being held on a $1.5 million bond, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hold on 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hold on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hold on was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near hold on

Cite this Entry

“Hold on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20on. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

hold on

verb
1
: to keep a hold
2

More from Merriam-Webster on hold on

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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