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

Green, guarding Leonard, then tipped away the Clippers’ inbounds pass out of a timeout, and Podziemski drove for a three-point play as the visitors hung on. —Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026

Her name and photograph now hang on a plaque, alongside 36 other workers who contributed to Orion but did not live to see its launch earlier this month. —Brian Maass, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

Legacy homer dooms Lake Ridge Shayla Gonzalez broke open a 1-1 tie with a 3-run home run in the top of the seventh inning and Mansfield Legacy hung on to beat Mansfield Lake Ridge 4-3 in a District 3-6A showdown on Tuesday night. —Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2026

Il Diavolo was scheduled to die by hanging on April 15, 1921. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 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