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

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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding on

Verb

Chen popped in a 30-foot 3-pointer with a minute remaining to give the Valkyries a three-point lead, and then kept the advantage at three with a slick layup over a contest after Chicago scored.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
The jury could not reach majority verdicts of at least 10 out of 12 jurors on the remaining three rape charges.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of remaining

Verb

His relatives are continuing to recover and his father has yet to get clearance to travel back to the United States, according to the outlets.

— Susan Young, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Buc-ee's is continuing its rapid expansion across the country, with its 58th location recently opening in Benton, Arkansas, continuing a trend leadership says is part of the popular travel center and convenience store chain's strategic growth plan.

— Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026