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

Those that work out which products are about to run short, and have a contingency plan in place, hold on to their customers. — Alex Saric, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

He was initially ordered held on $200,000 bond but was later granted release without bail, according to public records. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

In front of the largest crowd to attend a stand-alone MLS match, Josef Martinez gets his second hat trick in a row and his third of the season to help Atlanta United hold on for a 3-3 draw against Orlando City. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

The VMAs will take place this year at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, marking the first time the show has been held on the West Coast in nine years. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 16 Sep. 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