HOLDING ON Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

holding on 1 of 2

adjective

as in holding up

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Dissimilar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Penn State got good news on the injury front for its wide receiver room, and the Nittany Lions made the most of it early before holding on late for a 28-25 win over Washington at Husky Stadium on Saturday. — CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding on

Verb

Before planning around the message, ask for the time or remaining step that matters.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2026
The Bulls hoisted the white flag with two minutes and three seconds remaining, rotating their entire secondary unit into the game to wind down the loss.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of remaining

Verb

The flexible grant money will allow the organization to initiate projects sooner without waiting for government reimbursements, Morrison-North said.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
According to a compilation of both ports’ daily rail reports from The Dwell, the Port of Los Angeles had 23,716 import containers waiting for on-dock rail in its Friday report, with 8,172 of them waiting nine days or longer.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of waiting

Verb

Ultimately, the new board’s intention would be to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy – which would allow the hospitals to reorganize while continuing to operate – and turn them into nonprofits.

— Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
With repairs continuing, Microsoft earlier Friday provided a bit more insight into what went so wrong and how the conspiracy theories were incorrect.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2026

Definition of continuing

Verb

Build lasting centers for constitutional study and serious debate.

— Ilya Shapiro, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Yet Television’s peak era was brief, lasting for just two albums before the band split in 1978 and Verlaine and Lloyd pursued solo careers, although the band reformed in 1992 and regrouped several times over the years.

— Jem Aswad, Variety, 7 Nov. 2026