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

see also:

hold on to

Synonyms of hold on

• remain
• continue
• last

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

As the price of gas in California pushes toward $6 a gallon, Bay Area drivers are holding on for a miracle. —Kara St. Cyr, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. —Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026

Prospect’s bankruptcy filing placed an automatic hold on more than 300 lawsuits filed against the company, seeking a total of more than $800 million in damages, according to bankruptcy court filings. —Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 9 Apr. 2026

Aquinas held on for a 5-4 win over JSerra despite a seventh-inning home run from Blake Bowen. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for hold on

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

Kids Definition

hold on

verb

1

: to keep a hold

2

: wait entry 1 sense 1a