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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of holding on
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
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
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding on
Verb
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By spinning off its freight unit, the remaining FedEx is focused on parcel and logistics services, while emphasizing higher-margin end markets.
-
After the top four picks, the remaining 10 lottery teams are slotted in according to their records (meaning that the worst team is guaranteed at least the fifth pick).
Verb
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With potentially record-breaking heat coming to Washington, DC on the Fourth of July, people wanting to catch fireworks by saving an early spot on the National Mall will have a lot of waiting to do.
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Alysa Guffey Twenty minutes of remonstrance kicked off, with a long line of people waiting for a chance to speak.
Verb
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Detectives are continuing an investigation that began weeks ago, Azarcon said, and are analyzing evidence to see whether the six are linked to additional crimes.
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And last month, JD said during a fourth quarter earnings conference call that is continuing to optimize its store fleet in North America.
Verb
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The night's special honors include the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award for Lauryn Hill and the first-ever Icon of the Year Award for Teyana Taylor, recognizing their lasting impact on music and culture.
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That might be the real secret behind Jones' lasting more than a century.
Cite this Entry
“Holding on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20on. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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