holding pattern
noun
1
: the usually oval course flown (as over an airport) by aircraft awaiting clearance especially to land
2
: a state of waiting or suspended activity or progress
Examples of holding pattern in a Sentence
Our plane was in a holding pattern for almost an hour because of the fog.
repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter
Recent Examples on the Web
Any third-round holding pattern couldn’t drag on too far, though.
—
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Depending on your perspective, Tesla appears to be either in a holding pattern or slight decline, with slowing sales growth and withering fundamentals.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
Current conditions, with the labor market defying fears of a deeper trough and inflation staying high due primarily to the impact from tariffs and the Iran war, have kept the Fed in a holding pattern on interest rates.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 May 2026
With the Federal Reserve in a holding pattern on interest rate policy, borrowing rates for consumer loans and credit cards haven’t budged much in recent months.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holding pattern
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Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Depending on your perspective, Tesla appears to be either in a holding pattern or slight decline, with slowing sales growth and withering fundamentals.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
Current conditions, with the labor market defying fears of a deeper trough and inflation staying high due primarily to the impact from tariffs and the Iran war, have kept the Fed in a holding pattern on interest rates.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 May 2026
With the Federal Reserve in a holding pattern on interest rate policy, borrowing rates for consumer loans and credit cards haven’t budged much in recent months.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holding pattern
Cite this Entry
“Holding pattern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holding%20pattern. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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