HOLDING ON Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

holding on 1 of 2

adjective

as in holding up

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holding on

2 of 2

verb

present participle of hold on

as in remaining

to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 holding on

Verb

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 Now, holding on to Paredes may prove to be a season-saving decision. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 6 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding on

Verb

The remaining borrowings are much less strategic and, in effect, are a hangover of the awful financial position the club found itself in a few years ago.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
American anti-immigrant politics consequently differs from the European version, remaining more closely bound to the Monroe Doctrine and its vision of hemispheric control.

— Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of remaining

Verb

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis exploited them in their April 2023 meeting, blocking a couple of early left hooks in the Las Vegas fight and waiting for his opportunity.

— Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The soldiers and settlers can be relied upon to stifle joy, waiting at the olive harvests, along the coasts, and at checkpoints where women are forced to give birth on the sides of the road.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of waiting

Verb

Illinois is issuing its own guidance about flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations for this fall – amid continuing confusion over federal vaccine recommendations.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
There was also the challenge of continuing as a photojournalist while managing the unexpected attention surrounding the photograph.

— Thomas E. Franklin, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of continuing

Verb

But for those who are wrongfully detained or deported, the experience can leave lasting trauma, mounting legal costs and consequences that take years to resolve.

— María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
The sting of the title-game loss will remain, but a little reminder from the past — directly from the players who experienced it — certainly has the chance to leave a lasting impact for the future.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026