HELD ON Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

held on

verb

past tense of hold on

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

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

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.

Recent Examples of held on The runoff election will be held on June 16 across the state. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 June 2026 And this year, Democratic voters held on to their ballots longer amid an unsettled governor’s race. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 Public hearings for the case were held on two separate days in march and April, with more than 30 people attending, the court said. — ABC News, 6 July 2026 The next Federal Reserve meeting, meanwhile, will be held on July 28 and July 29. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 29 June 2026 At their Manhattan Supreme Criminal Court arraignments, Vern Joly was ordered held without bail while his father was ordered held on $250,000 bond. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026 The free concerts, which began in 2000, are sponsored by the Clarendon Hills Chamber of Commerce and are held on Prospect Avenue, between the railroad tracks and Park Avenue in the downtown area. — Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 Subscriptions made up 93% of sales in 2025, while net revenue retention (a measure of how much existing customers keep spending over time) was 95% for the year, indicating the company held on to the vast majority of the revenue its current users generate. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 8 June 2026 King of the Ring Tournament WWE unveiled the King and Queen of the Ring Tournament brackets after Clash in Italy was finished and the first match on the men’s side was held on Monday night. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for held on

Verb

Machado, on the other hand, remained in the game after fouling a ball off his toe in the third inning and collapsing in pain at the plate.

— Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
Seigler remained down for several minutes, bleeding from one arm and grimacing in pain as interim manager Chad Tracy and trainers rushed out to check him for a head injury.

— Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 July 2026

Definition of remained

Verb

Street and Seventh Avenue closest to the arena were closed to pedestrians, some of whom waited nearby for a glimpse of the newlyweds or their guests.

— Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Five-year-old Tina Carter waited patiently with her mother Diana in a long line to carefully print her first name on a timecapsule scroll to be exhumed in 2076.

— Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026

Definition of waited

Verb

The princess announced in 2025 that her cancer was in remission and has continued to support cancer research and patient care.

— Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 8 July 2026
The driver continued northbound in the southbound lanes of Victoria Avenue before eventually stopping at Buena High School, according to authorities.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026