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
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 camera holds on them mid-ascent.
—
Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds on
Verb
-
Lithium refining is expensive and technologically complex, and most of the world’s midstream processing capacity remains concentrated in China, meaning Chinese firms dominate not only mining but also the chemical refining stage where much of the value is captured.—
Ray Mwayera,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The Heat remains outside of play-in tournament territory, with just 15 regular-season games left to play.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the last week, that has shown up in the passenger security waits at airports across the country, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which last fall employed about 1,200 officers.—
Charles Minshew,
AJC.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For hedge funds, much now depends on how long the conflict and the oil disruption lasts, experts said.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The pigment lasts all day without smearing.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Confirm addresses and times, and ask questions to verify assumptions, so each step lands on schedule and your reputation stays solid.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
If anything leaks inside, the spill stays contained inside the bag, instead of soaking through to the rest of your luggage.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Denise Amber Lee Foundation, created by her husband Nathan Lee, continues to promote training and raise public awareness nationwide.—
DAVID FISCHER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
As their investigation continues, LBPD detectives asked anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them at (562) 570-7355.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20on. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
