HANGING ON Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

hanging on

verb

present participle of hang on

as in keeping up

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as in holding on

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging on

Verb

In South Florida in particular, where the cost of living has skyrocketed in recent years, teacher salaries aren’t keeping up.

— Natalie La Roche Pietri, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
One challenge is keeping up with tech that is always evolving.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of keeping up

Verb

The two sides are carrying on with development of multiple projects, with one of them said to be nearing a series order.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
The lack of success also began to wear on Moreno, whose children reportedly aren't interested in carrying on in the baseball business.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of carrying on

Verb

In the logic of edutainment, random children hanging around in the company of a plush creature is nothing noteworthy.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
At the Vetements show, Jayden looked like a pro in a white tank top tucked into a pair of light wash jeans with a brown leather belt and silver chains hanging around his hips.

— Emma Banks, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of hanging around

Verb

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis exploited them in their April 2023 meeting, blocking a couple of early left hooks in the Las Vegas fight and waiting for his opportunity.

— Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The soldiers and settlers can be relied upon to stifle joy, waiting at the olive harvests, along the coasts, and at checkpoints where women are forced to give birth on the sides of the road.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of waiting

Verb

With thousands of fans sticking around to watch the epic, Shelton was buoyed by the home support and found the energy to edge the match-deciding tiebreak and win the record-breaking quarterfinal in five sets – 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7).

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Crowds haven’t been sticking around much for matches that have ended in the wee hours of the morning.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of sticking around

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“Hanging on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging%20on. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hanging on

verb

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