Synonyms of holding on

holding on 1 of 2

adjective

as in holding up

Related Words

• holding up
• keeping up
• running on
• lasting
• enduring
• abiding
• residual
• persisting
• lingering
• staying
• sticking around
• continuing
• biding
• perduring
• remaining
• leftover
• carrying through
• surviving
• tarrying
• prevailing

Dissimilar Words

• dying (down)
• letting up
• waning
• winding up
• subsiding
• moderating
• abating
• ebbing
• ending
• dying
• passing
• concluding
• finishing
• closing
• stopping
• terminating
• ceasing
• leaving off
• lapsing
• quitting
• expiring
• discontinuing
• desisting

holding on

2 of 2

verb

present participle of hold on

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

• remaining
• continuing
• lasting
• running on
• keeping up
• persisting
• staying
• holding up
• enduring
• surviving
• lingering
• abiding
• sticking around
• perduring
• carrying through
• prevailing
• biding
• tarrying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• winding up
• ending
• dying
• passing
• finishing
• closing
• stopping
• dying (down)
• concluding
• terminating
• expiring
• leaving off
• ceasing
• discontinuing
• lapsing
• quitting
• waning
• desisting
• moderating
• letting up
• subsiding
• ebbing
• abating

2

as in waiting

to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something

hold on a minute—it's not your turn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• waiting
• staying
• sitting tight
• holding one's breath
• biding one's time
• cooling one's heels
• hanging around
• sticking around
• awaiting
• standing by
• lingering
• watching (for)
• remaining
• biding
• expecting
• anticipating
• tarrying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of holding on

Verb

Fixed on a mobile rig that will at times careen and whoosh across the stage when not otherwise holding on Winter, Anderson’s camera catches the expressionism and chiaroscuro of stage lights illuminating and fading off the singer’s face. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026

Walter didn’t publicly step down from any roles after the stroke, holding on to control of a vast portfolio. — 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

That puts me in the same boat as many millennials and Gen Zers holding on to the family phone plan, one of their last financial ties to their parents. — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026

Schmidt is currently holding on to the collection, though certain items are expected to be auctioned off to further support Stücke and LSVD+. — Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

Argyle, a quiet community holding on to its rural roots, is at a crossroads with rapid growth and traffic congestion driving the need to widen FM 407, which goes through the town in southern Denton County. — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2026

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