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
Synonyms
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
And this holding pattern constrains supply and also keeps prices high.
—
Terri Williams, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The wording of the treaty creates a unique and artfully crafted holding pattern.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
Departing planes were delayed on the ground while arriving planes were caught in a midair holding pattern.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2024
Thus is the film’s strange, languid erotic holding pattern set.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 Feb. 2024
There’s a mutual understanding across the league that conversations don’t pick up until after the playoffs, so everybody has been in a holding pattern over the past month or so.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2024
SpaceX had been a holding pattern waiting for that approval, which had been in question due in part to the consequences of the first test.
—NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023
Stuck in the same holding pattern as thousands of other migrants in cities along the border after pandemic-era migration restrictions expired on Thursday night, the occupants of the camp here have had to make do with the scarce supply of food and water provided by volunteers and the Border Patrol.
—Simon Romero, New York Times, 12 May 2023
The building has been in a holding pattern since, as officials wait for the government to approve funding.
—Emma Colton, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2023
Terri Williams, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The wording of the treaty creates a unique and artfully crafted holding pattern.
—Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
Departing planes were delayed on the ground while arriving planes were caught in a midair holding pattern.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2024
Thus is the film’s strange, languid erotic holding pattern set.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 Feb. 2024
There’s a mutual understanding across the league that conversations don’t pick up until after the playoffs, so everybody has been in a holding pattern over the past month or so.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2024
SpaceX had been a holding pattern waiting for that approval, which had been in question due in part to the consequences of the first test.
—NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023
Stuck in the same holding pattern as thousands of other migrants in cities along the border after pandemic-era migration restrictions expired on Thursday night, the occupants of the camp here have had to make do with the scarce supply of food and water provided by volunteers and the Border Patrol.
—Simon Romero, New York Times, 12 May 2023
The building has been in a holding pattern since, as officials wait for the government to approve funding.
—Emma Colton, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holding pattern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near holding pattern
Cite this Entry
“Holding pattern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holding%20pattern. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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