hanging on

verb

present participle of hang on
1
as in keeping up

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2
as in holding on

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging on
  1. keeping up
  2. holding on
  3. carrying on
  4. hanging around
  5. waiting
  6. sticking around
Verb
  • For those who haven’t been keeping up with every former Twilight Saga actor, Taylor Lautner married Taylor Dome in 2022.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of keeping up
Verb
  • Walter didn’t publicly step down from any roles after the stroke, holding on to control of a vast portfolio.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • There’s nothing wrong with holding on to childhood and being a little immature from time to time.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of holding on
Verb
  • In the tangled greenery of a Ugandan national park, mountain gorillas sit among the leaves, calmly carrying on as tourists trek into their forest home.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The acquisition also puts Lewis in the somewhat unusual position of carrying on the businesses of two veteran New York printmakers who helped shape his career.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of carrying on
Verb
  • Mosquito bites are to be expected in the warm summer months, but increasingly these pests are hanging around into autumn.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • This set is sublime for hanging around the house without feeling sloppy.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of hanging around
Verb
  • Kindergartners are learning to ride bicycles in physical education classes rather than waiting for lessons at home.
    — Cheyanne Mumphrey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Nine out of 10 queries about waiting times feature a question about the averages.
    — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of waiting
Verb
  • But if the symptoms are sticking around, especially after a dose change, don’t be shy about speaking up at your next appointment.
    — Korin Miller, Allure, 16 Sep. 2026
  • But the 26-year-old defenseman sounded plenty interested in sticking around.
    — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of sticking around
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.

Browse Nearby Words

hanging loose
hanging on
hanging one on
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Cite this Entry

“Hanging on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging%20on. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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