1
as in remains
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state
the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in waits
to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something
hold on a minute—it's not your turn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds on
Verb
-
At this time, the containment status is unknown and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
9 Nov. 2025 -
Four years on, the diatribe remains the same.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But Barkov will not be able to play, and now an entire nation waits with bated breath to find out if Landeskog will be available or not.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Fabiana Hernández Ortega waits for a truck delivering milk — a basic staple that has become increasingly scarce.—
Eyder Peralta,
NPR,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
However, depending on how long the shutdown lasts, the commodity offerings could eventually start to run dry, Little said.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The journey from Bönigen to Interlaken by water lasts around 90 minutes.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Although indoor poinsettia usually stays relatively compact, outdoor plants can grow over 10 feet tall.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, water them once a week, making sure the soil stays moist but never wet.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The return of Matthews the Superstar continues.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The federal change at the CDC comes as a measles outbreak which first appeared in northwest South Carolina in late 2025 continues to grow, reaching 211 cases by Tuesday.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Holds on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20on. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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