HOLDS ON Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

holds on

verb

present tense third-person singular of hold on

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

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

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 holds on The compilation misses remaining in the highest tier by only two rungs, while The Essential Michael Jackson barely holds on inside the bottom quarter of the 200-position roster. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 House Bill 945 establishes new regulations for cryptocurrency kiosks and allows financial institutions to place temporary holds on transactions when elder financial exploitation is suspected. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 29 June 2026 Nava’s specific approach to reining in rogue behavior by AI agents is the creation of an escrow service that holds on to funds until an agent proposes a transaction. — Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026 The camera holds on them mid-ascent. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds on

Verb

The descendants of Vikings who settled Iceland have been living off the sea for centuries, and fishing remains part of the country's cultural identity.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Thirty years later, still unfinished Nearly 30 years on, the case remains unresolved in the fullest sense.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of remains

Verb

Their disaffection can create a culture of hopelessness and emotional stasis that lasts well past any economic recovery.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Adaptalux says the internal battery lasts up to eight hours of continuous use depending on brightness and recharges over USB-C, which can also keep the pod running while permanently plugged in.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of lasts

Verb

Camping stretches the experience beyond show hours, the landscape stays visible from across the grounds, and the single-stage format gives attendees time to settle in.

— Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
This fascinating world of insects and plants usually stays far from human lives.

— Prayan Pokharel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of stays

Verb

Slack continues to be a bright spot in the results — a major reversal from a couple years ago, when the company was maligned for paying too much to acquire the workplace messaging app during the Covid-19 pandemic.

— Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Nvidia doubled its revenue and profit year-over-year in its second quarter, and forecast sales in the current quarter that topped analyst estimates, as red-hot demand for its AI chips continues to bolster the company’s fortunes.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026