1
as in suspensions
a state of temporary inactivity
repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delays
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
the couple has been trapped in this holding pattern for six months, as adoption officials create more red tape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding patterns
Some of the most common causes for the delays were the gate not being ready, taxiway congestion, holding patterns, runway queues, crew or equipment delay and weather restrictions.
—
Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
Inbound flights that had been placed in holding patterns were cleared to land, and no cancellations were reported.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
Inbound flights that had been placed in holding patterns were cleared to land, and no cancellations were reported.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding patterns
Noun
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Regarding out-of-school suspensions, the district has seen a 7% decrease in the use of that discipline when the 2024 and 2025 school years are compared.—
Connye Griffin,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
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Participating high schools, including Oakland Tech High School in Oakland and Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, adapted their peer support programs to school-specific goals such as providing restorative alternatives to suspensions and teaching students conflict resolution skills.—
Vani Sanganeria,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Bayt Almocha had also been expected to open last summer, but delays pushed that plan back to March.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
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The Covid pandemic snarled airplane assembly at both Boeing and its chief rival, Airbus, with supply chain delays and loss of experienced workers, even after the worst of the health crisis subsided.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the heart of Round Rock, the Unicorniverse can get quite busy on weekends, with waits of up to 40 minutes for food, so try to go on a weekday.—
Austin American Statesman,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
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That said, reasonable preparation can help even those familiar with international payment systems avoid high fees, long waits and general confusion.—
Jason Phillips,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding patterns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20patterns. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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