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

Synonyms

• remain
• continue
• last

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

At his arraignment Sunday night at Brooklyn Criminal Court, he was ordered held on bail of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond. —Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025

The swan-dive into country music could, on its face, seem like a ploy for more commercial ambitions, given country’s hold on popular music at the moment. —Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2025

The run is held on a loop course on four-wheel-drive roads, dirt trails and cross-country trails in southern Colorado's San Juan Range. —Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 14 July 2025

BeBe Winans and CeCe Winans are set to host the 40th Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which will be held on Saturday (Aug. 16) at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 14 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for hold on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

hold on

verb

1

: to keep a hold

2

: wait entry 1 sense 1a