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
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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
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Recent Examples of holds on
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
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
-
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with few effective treatment options once the disease spreads.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
-
Whether the rant has any immediate political implications for the lawmakers, especially in a midterm election year, remains to be seen.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Dennis waits until Mallory leaves to go on a bike ride, and then attacks her on the path.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Typically, symptoms resolve within two to seven days, but people with severe symptoms, including diarrhea that lasts more than three days, high fever and blood in stool should seek medical attention.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
Americans are increasingly open to approaches that reduce harm, strengthen communities, and deliver safety that lasts.—
Ana Zamora,
Time,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The film stays true to much of the original comic with the notable addition of Lobo, an interstellar bounty hunter, played by Jason Momoa.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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Cinematographer Eric Yue stays close on his subjects, a handheld camera keeping us caught in their movements, queasy and intimate in equal measure.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
This particular brand of freedom is clearly not serving us well, though, because one set of statistics after another continues to tell us that our mental health and wellbeing are plummeting in an alarming way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Miami leads the league with 39 goals, but the defense continues to be vulnerable, with 28 goals allowed.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20on. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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