holding pattern

noun

1

: the usually oval course flown (as over an airport) by aircraft awaiting clearance especially to land

2

: a state of waiting or suspended activity or progress

Synonyms of holding pattern

• suspension
• suspense
• cold storage

Examples of holding pattern in a Sentence

Our plane was in a holding pattern for almost an hour because of the fog.

repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter

Recent Examples on the Web

Current conditions, with the labor market defying fears of a deeper trough and inflation staying high due primarily to the impact from tariffs and the Iran war, have kept the Fed in a holding pattern on interest rates. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 May 2026

With the Federal Reserve in a holding pattern on interest rate policy, borrowing rates for consumer loans and credit cards haven’t budged much in recent months. —Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

Since the beginning of the war, nearly 800 vessels have been stuck in a holding pattern near the passage, impacting about 20,000 mariners. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026

What was meant to be temporary became a holding pattern with good WiFi and subsidized groceries. —Ali Kaufman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1952, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for holding pattern

• saturn

Kids Definition

holding pattern

noun

1

: the course flown (as over an airport) by an aircraft waiting for permission to land

2

: a state of waiting or suspended activity

the project is in a holding pattern