1
as in remained
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state
the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in waited
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
hold on a minute—it's not your turn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of held on
Anika Reed The Met Gala is held on the first Monday in May, which falls on May 4 this year.
—
Anika Reed, USA Today, 5 May 2026
But the Padres broke the tie with a check-swing RBI infield single by Xander Bogaerts in the eighth inning, and San Diego held on to beat the Sox 4-3 in front of a sellout crowd of 40,171 at Petco Park.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
The influential firm examined executive compensation packages related to the 318 S&P 500 companies whose annual shareholder meetings are held on or after January 1, 2026.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026
He was ordered held on $20,000 bond during his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court Saturday.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
With the game tied and things looking ominous for the Galaxy, Elijah Wynder was held on a cross into the box.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
Wenger was held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 4.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
Those arrested included the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, Wayne Hsiung, 44, of New York, who was being held on a tentative felony charge of conspiracy to commit burglary.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Breaks Interstate Park offers seasonal tours to the Virginia Elk Restoration Zone, where visitors can view the elk (reservations are required and tours are only held on select weekends).
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026
Anika Reed, USA Today, 5 May 2026
But the Padres broke the tie with a check-swing RBI infield single by Xander Bogaerts in the eighth inning, and San Diego held on to beat the Sox 4-3 in front of a sellout crowd of 40,171 at Petco Park.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
The influential firm examined executive compensation packages related to the 318 S&P 500 companies whose annual shareholder meetings are held on or after January 1, 2026.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026
He was ordered held on $20,000 bond during his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court Saturday.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
With the game tied and things looking ominous for the Galaxy, Elijah Wynder was held on a cross into the box.
—Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
Wenger was held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 4.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
Those arrested included the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, Wayne Hsiung, 44, of New York, who was being held on a tentative felony charge of conspiracy to commit burglary.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Breaks Interstate Park offers seasonal tours to the Virginia Elk Restoration Zone, where visitors can view the elk (reservations are required and tours are only held on select weekends).
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held on
Verb
-
The physically largest, Quebec, remained loyal, as did the most lucrative, Jamaica.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, the Marlins are sending catcher Agustin Ramirez to Triple-A after an uneven first five weeks in which his power declined, his defense remained poor and base running errors frustrated the team.—
Barry Jackson,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
By the time the flight landed in Baltimore, airport fire crews were in place for a traditional water cannon salute, and ground staff waited at the gate with cheers and a bottle of champagne.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
-
The Texans could have waited another year to begin negotiations.—
Jonathan M. Alexander,
Houston Chronicle,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
During the long aftermath of the civil-rights movement, many authors and advocates imagined that King’s struggle could be continued by expanding its reach.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The denim factory in Vietnam continued to advance its smart manufacturing transformation, which includes a smart warehouse management system, smart AGV system, a smart cutting system and intelligent production lines.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
That second-inning at-bat lasted three more pitches.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
The Mesozoic era lasted some hundred and eighty-six million years.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The conspiracy theories — which claim NASA faked the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969, and subsequent missions to win the Space Race, often alleging the events were filmed in a studio — have persisted for decades.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Oh exited the series following season 10 in 2014, but Owen’s relationship issues persisted.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Held on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20on. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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