SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus
view recents

hold on

verb
Save Word
held on; holding on; holds on

Definition of hold on

intransitive verb

1a : 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
hold on to
: to maintain possession of or adherence to
Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More About hold on

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

First Known Use of hold on

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

Learn More About hold on

Time Traveler for hold on

Time Traveler

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

See more words from the same century

Dictionary Entries Near hold on

hold off on

hold on

hold one's fire

See More Nearby Entries 

Statistics for hold on

Cite this Entry

“Hold on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20on. Accessed 29 Jan. 2022.

Style: MLA
MLACheck Mark Icon ChicagoCheck Mark Icon APACheck Mark Icon Merriam-WebsterCheck Mark Icon

More from Merriam-Webster on hold on

Nglish: Translation of hold on for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of hold on for Arabic Speakers

WORD OF THE DAY

career

Listen to the pronunciation of career

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet pasta spelling help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games