1
as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
the couple has been trapped in this holding pattern for six months, as adoption officials create more red tape
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding pattern
Nowadays, Dodge offers just two cars for sale: the Hornet and Durango SUVs, though that is somewhat of a holding pattern before the brand goes electric with cars like the new Charger.
—
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2025
When everything is familiar, our brains go into a kind of holding pattern.
—Janice Kaplan, TIME, 3 Jan. 2025
The bill had been held in a procedural holding pattern until bill sponsor Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, motioned to add it to the next available calendar.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 22 Apr. 2024
One by open-source intelligence analyst MT Anderson said Russian ships, likely the Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Grigorovich frigates, the Novorossiysk Kilo-class submarine and oiler Vyazma were in a holding pattern five miles west of the port.
—Brendan Cole, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for holding pattern
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2025
When everything is familiar, our brains go into a kind of holding pattern.
—Janice Kaplan, TIME, 3 Jan. 2025
The bill had been held in a procedural holding pattern until bill sponsor Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, motioned to add it to the next available calendar.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 22 Apr. 2024
One by open-source intelligence analyst MT Anderson said Russian ships, likely the Admiral Gorshkov and Admiral Grigorovich frigates, the Novorossiysk Kilo-class submarine and oiler Vyazma were in a holding pattern five miles west of the port.
—Brendan Cole, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for holding pattern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding pattern
Noun
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Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 12 shots for the Panthers, who continue to play without key stars Matthew Tkachuk (groin), Aaron Ekblad (suspension) and recent acquisition Brad Marchand (upper-body injury).—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2025
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His appointee as chief executive for U.S. Agency for Global Media embarked on a series of suspensions, visa revocations and investigations that were found, in some instances, to violate the law and federal policy.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The delay, prompted by an issue with the launchpad’s ground system, further hindered the return of the two NASA astronauts who in June flew to the space station aboard the troubled Starliner.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
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Staff reductions of this magnitude risk prolonging processing delays and increasing wait times for taxpayer support—disproportionately harming working families who rely on prompt refunds and accessible services.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
His responses to unseen phenomena transform everyday domestic spaces into realms of suspense and terror.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
12 Mar. 2025
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Meanwhile, Moura, who plays Manny, opened up about the process of developing his character’s dynamic with Henry, revealing how their chemistry—both on and off-screen—helped elevate the series’ suspense and emotional core.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The new approval process is creating lengthy wait times for agencies to onboard new hires, causing fears that those employees will go unpaid, their work will go undone, and that their personal information might be compromised.—
Quil Lawrence,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
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Businesses are facing five to eight-year wait times to connect to Europe’s ageing and strained electricity grids, experts told CNBC, as the emergence of new areas of demand drives an unprecedented rise in permit requests for power.—
April Roach,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As beeping forklifts move pallets of fresh produce from cold storage to waiting 18-wheel trailers, Greene describes a possible nightmare scenario if there are cuts to SNAP, job losses, and disruptions to the USDA’s emergency food assistance programs.—
Rosa Flores,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
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However, some lily varieties grown in warmer zones will benefit from removing the bulbs from the ground or planter and placing them in cold storage for a time before replanting.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holding pattern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20pattern. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
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