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
In Chicago and Portland, judges blocked Guard forces from being deployed onto the streets, leaving them in a holding pattern for weeks.
—
Joe Walsh, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025
The business has been in something of a holding pattern since 2023, when the writers and actors strikes put much of the industry on ice.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 19 Nov. 2025
Michigan's labor force is shrinking That holding pattern is leading to a decline in Michigan's labor force, a measure of people working or actively looking for work, as fewer companies bring on new employees.
—Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025
The orbiters are expected to linger in a holding pattern before heading for Mars next year when the red planet is better aligned for a less fuel-intensive journey.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holding pattern
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Joe Walsh, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025
The business has been in something of a holding pattern since 2023, when the writers and actors strikes put much of the industry on ice.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 19 Nov. 2025
Michigan's labor force is shrinking That holding pattern is leading to a decline in Michigan's labor force, a measure of people working or actively looking for work, as fewer companies bring on new employees.
—Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025
The orbiters are expected to linger in a holding pattern before heading for Mars next year when the red planet is better aligned for a less fuel-intensive journey.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
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 27 Nov. 2025.
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