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

see also:

hold on to

Synonyms of hold on

• 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

Arrest records show he was booked for a misdemeanor and is being held on a $200,000 bond. —Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026

Gas stations put these holds on cards when paying at the pump to protect themselves from fraud. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 14 May 2026

The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say. —Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026

But Turner held on to MGM’s most valuable assets — its voluminous library of movies and TV shows. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 14 May 2026

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