hang on

verb

hung on; hanging on; hangs on

intransitive verb

1

: to keep hold : hold on to something

2

: to persist tenaciously

a cold that hung on all spring

3

: hold on sense 2

I'll get the answer if you can hang on.

see also:

hang on to

Examples of hang on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That bar is nowadays next door to an outdoor area known as Rory Gallagher Place, where a giant plaque dedicated to Rory hangs on the wall and which is where free concerts were staged during the festival. — Ed Christman, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026

New York, meanwhile, was trying to hang on with yet another rainy home game that needed the defense to step up and get the win. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2026

After that initial decision to hang on to the puck, the learning process kicked in. — Arpon Basu, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

The mall brands your older cousins grew up with aren’t just hanging on. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hang on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

hang on

verb

1

: to keep hold or possession especially tightly

hang on or you'll fall

hang on to your money

2

: to continue stubbornly

a cold that hung on all spring