as in holding up
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in remaining
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state
the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in waiting
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
hold on a minute—it's not your turn
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding on
Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 27 May 2026
Eveningside’s smaller arms holding on to the chains while Morningside’s longer arms propelled them, her fists and excess joints braced against the ground; their span lengthening, extending and retracting in the girls’ to and fro.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Now, holding on to Paredes may prove to be a season-saving decision.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Older employees are holding on to roles for longer, delaying the upward movement that typically creates space for new entrants.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Amid all that, Varsity Blues — about a Texas high-school football team rebelling against its abusive coach and holding on to one last gasp of glory before graduation — got a little lost.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Also, Southern California visits Nebraska with both sides holding on for dear life.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Tad Smith, the former CEO of Sotheby’s and now partner at 50T Funds, a growth equity firm focused on digital assets, said many wealthy crypto investors are holding on to their bitcoin and other tokens expecting a further run-up in price.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, her hair was trimmed in a shaggy pixie cut; the front just barely holding on to the top of her forehead.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
Kaity Schultz's husband, Chris, said the road ahead will be long, but their family is holding on to hope.
—Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 27 May 2026
Eveningside’s smaller arms holding on to the chains while Morningside’s longer arms propelled them, her fists and excess joints braced against the ground; their span lengthening, extending and retracting in the girls’ to and fro.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Now, holding on to Paredes may prove to be a season-saving decision.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Older employees are holding on to roles for longer, delaying the upward movement that typically creates space for new entrants.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Amid all that, Varsity Blues — about a Texas high-school football team rebelling against its abusive coach and holding on to one last gasp of glory before graduation — got a little lost.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Also, Southern California visits Nebraska with both sides holding on for dear life.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Tad Smith, the former CEO of Sotheby’s and now partner at 50T Funds, a growth equity firm focused on digital assets, said many wealthy crypto investors are holding on to their bitcoin and other tokens expecting a further run-up in price.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, her hair was trimmed in a shaggy pixie cut; the front just barely holding on to the top of her forehead.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding on
Verb
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The Bakersfield Police Department said two hostages had been safely released and that all remaining individuals were in good health as of Tuesday evening.—
Greg Wehner , Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
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Goldman sees 60% earnings-per-share growth for Asia Pacific equities in 2026, with technology remaining the market's strongest-performing sector.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The House's effort to circumvent leadership on support for Ukraine comes as bipartisan legislation in the Senate to impose new economic sanctions on Russia has languished for more than a year, with senators waiting for a green light from the White House.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
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Congress could also intervene, Budington said, by passing legislation that allows a private right of action after data breaches, allowing victims to pursue cases directly instead of relying on state laws or waiting for state attorneys general to take up a case.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Public health specialists and humanitarian organizations have warned that fear, rumors and mistrust within communities are continuing to threaten and slow efforts to stop the spread.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
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This weekend, Dua Lipa and Callum Turner—who tied the knot in a secret London wedding earlier this week— are reportedly continuing the festivities with a lavish three-day ceremony in Palermo.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
4 June 2026
Verb
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But the lessons Joe Negri taught countless children on television and students in his classroom will leave a lasting imprint of a legendary career and a legacy that will never be forgotten.—
Kristine Sorensen,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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Filipino Forces exists to spotlight the next generation of Filipino leadership, foster meaningful relationships, and create a lasting platform for representation, pride, and cultural amplification.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20on. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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