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
Phrases
hold on to
: to maintain possession of or adherence to

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Notably, the latest debate over TikTok coincided with China’s national cybersecurity week, held on Sept 15-21. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025 So in about a half-second, McMillan pivoted while running full speed, glanced back over his left shoulder, barely got his right hand on the ball in the end zone — and couldn’t hold on. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2025 The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2025 He was booked at the Florence County Jail, where he is being held on $9,090 bond. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hold on

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hold on was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20on. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

hold on

verb
1
: to keep a hold
2

More from Merriam-Webster on hold on

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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