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.
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Whichever couple holds on the longest will go directly to the final round. Kristen Baldwin September 2, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2025 New rules To reduce time-wasting, goalkeepers will concede a corner for holding on to the ball for more than eight seconds. Cerys Jones, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025 In the final, Wazir repeated as gold medalist, beating Camron in an epic first game 20-18 and then holding on for the 18,9 win. Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 2 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 8 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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