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
-
The Arlington County Police Department announced the news on Thursday following a monthslong criminal investigation that remains active.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
-
At some point, those fuel sources will be exhausted, no further energy will be naturally extracted from what remains within them, and those once-brilliant objects will fade away into darkness.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
-
While the storefront is minimal, save for a bright red front door, what waits inside is exceptional.—
Emma Simard,
Saveur,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The streamer has a free trial available, which only lasts for five days.—
Rudie Obias,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
-
For a show that lasts roughly 13 minutes, the Super Bowl halftime performance has fueled decades of conversation.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Best Care Practices Use a mix created specifically for container growing, which doesn’t compact and stays nice and airy all season long.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The mahogany music room stays true with a grand piano, now covered wall-to-wall in shimmering gold wallpaper that glows at night.—
Keith Flanagan,
Architectural Digest,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
First, the core will run out of hydrogen fuel, causing the inner core of the star to become inert while hydrogen fusion continues in a shell surrounding it.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
While social media was, and continues to be, a hotbed of culture-war goofiness, people yelling about lentils in the comments section of Jezebel hardly accounts for the rise of RFK Jr.—
Annie Levin,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20on. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
