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

Republicans are braced for losses but hoping to hang on to Senate control. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Republicans are fighting to hang on to narrow control of the House in the face of a record wave of retirements and other signs of a dire outlook. — Alexei Koseff, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026

The old names, Rebecca Lobo and Ray Allen, Breanna Stewart and Rip Hamilton, Maya Moore and Kemba Walker, to name only a few, hang on banners along the walls. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026

The chase reaches its climax with Scottie slipping and hanging on to the roof for dear life while his partner falls to his death. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 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