Synonyms of holds on

holds on

verb

present tense third-person singular of hold on

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

• remains
• lasts
• continues
• persists
• runs on
• stays
• keeps up
• holds up
• endures
• survives
• lingers
• abides
• perdures
• bides
• prevails
• sticks around
• carries through
• tarries

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ends
• dies
• stops
• concludes
• passes
• winds up
• expires
• ceases
• closes
• finishes
• lapses
• terminates
• leaves off
• dies (down)
• quits
• discontinues
• desists
• moderates
• wanes
• subsides
• lets up
• ebbs
• abates

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

• waits
• stays
• holds one's breath
• bides one's time
• sits tight
• cools one's heels
• awaits
• remains
• hangs around
• lingers
• stands by
• sticks around
• bides
• watches (for)
• expects
• tarries
• anticipates

Example Sentences

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