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
With the Federal Reserve in a holding pattern on interest rate policy, borrowing rates for consumer loans and credit cards haven’t budged much in recent months.
—
Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Since the beginning of the war, nearly 800 vessels have been stuck in a holding pattern near the passage, impacting about 20,000 mariners.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
What was meant to be temporary became a holding pattern with good WiFi and subsidized groceries.
—Ali Kaufman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Overall, the labor market has been in a holding pattern for much of the last six months, with employers reluctant to add many people to their payrolls but also hesitant to lay people off.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holding pattern
Rachel Barber, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Since the beginning of the war, nearly 800 vessels have been stuck in a holding pattern near the passage, impacting about 20,000 mariners.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
What was meant to be temporary became a holding pattern with good WiFi and subsidized groceries.
—Ali Kaufman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
Overall, the labor market has been in a holding pattern for much of the last six months, with employers reluctant to add many people to their payrolls but also hesitant to lay people off.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for holding pattern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding pattern
Noun
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The union announced on Friday that the suspension would continue until at least Tuesday.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
19 June 2026
-
Winkelman, who led the district attorney’s law division beginning in 2018, is appealing the suspension.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Follow evacuation instructions without delay.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
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But with just a 60-day window to finalize a deal, any delay leaves less time to negotiate peace.—
Nic Robertson,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Noun
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As a result, moments of action, suspense, and cinematic spectacle found their way into the film.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
19 June 2026
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The tale begins in high suspense, with 53-year-old Daphne and her husband, Jonathan, seemingly being stalked while visiting New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Having ended a 28-year wait to make it here, the duo have not suffered from stage fright.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
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Prior authorization saves money for insurers partly by making patients pay a price in wait times and inconvenience, said Miranda Yaver, a University of Pittsburgh health policy researcher studying the technique.—
Darius Tahir,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Noun
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The blaze ignited Wednesday at the nearly 500,000-square-foot cold storage facility run by a company called Lineage, beginning on the roof, which caused a partial collapse and moved the flames into the building, where 85 million pounds of food are stored.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
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Firefighters say that the fire at the Lineage cold storage facility has finally been knocked down after more than a week of the blaze creating health hazards in the East Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding pattern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20pattern. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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