hold on
verb
held on; holding on; holds on
2
: to await something (such as a telephone connection) desired or requested
broadly
: wait
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
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
—
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Boyter still has a 12-pack plus a few extra cans left, opting to savor them for birthdays and special occasions, while Pierce is holding on strong to her four remaining 12-packs.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Shelton was transported to the Clinton County Adult Detention Center and is being held on a $2-million bond.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
We were caught between fleeing southward and holding on to hope.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold on
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.
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Boyter still has a 12-pack plus a few extra cans left, opting to savor them for birthdays and special occasions, while Pierce is holding on strong to her four remaining 12-packs.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Shelton was transported to the Clinton County Adult Detention Center and is being held on a $2-million bond.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
We were caught between fleeing southward and holding on to hope.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold on
Cite this Entry
“Hold on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20on. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share