hold on

verb

held on; holding on; holds on
Synonyms of hold onnext

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

see also hold on to

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the Greater Boston League, senior Jacob Underwood-Roche dropped 25 points, adding eight rebounds as Somerville (9-3) held on for a 62-55 win over Malden. Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026 He is being held on $2-million bail, according to jail records. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026 The cloud software company was up nearly 7% after an upgrade from Stifel to a buy rating from a hold on the stock. Michelle Fox,darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026 The National Guard in blue states began to defect after being federalized by the president, loosening his hold on the military. Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hold on

Word History

First Known Use

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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20on. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

hold on

verb
1
: to keep a hold
2

More from Merriam-Webster on hold on

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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