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

Giving team members insight into what is known, what remains unchanged and what may come next can help people navigate uneasy periods of uncertainty with greater confidence.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The vessel's identity remains unknown, and researchers are now turning to historical records in the hopes of identifying the ship.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of remains

Verb

Lee, emerging from the dark woods beyond McMann’s cabin, gets picked up by a guy who nicknames himself the Boontill Oracle, a do-gooder who waits outside highway bars to give safe rides to local drunks.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
As an investor at Point72, the hedge fund of billionaire Steve Cohen, Shaffer watched Wall Street turn private fund shares into digital tokens without shortening investors’ waits to cash out.

— Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of waits

Verb

The sensor is powered by a single AAA battery (not included) that typically lasts up to 6 months, depending on usage.

— John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
The agreement lasts for three years but could be cut short or extended depending on whether the parties mutually determine the city and Police Department have reached compliance.

— Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of lasts

Verb

Our communications team stays connected to employees, operators and customers to identify and fix gaps between our promises and their experiences.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Seagate Technology Holdings could see its shares nearly double as data storage demand stays strong, according to Morgan Stanley.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of stays

Verb

The American consumer, who accounts for about 70% of GDP, continues to buy stuff, but many are stressed by energy prices, wage stagnation, rising interest rates, and an affordability crisis in everything from health care to housing.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
And Winnie-the-Pooh continues to sit, in a thoughtful sort of way, which is what very old bears in very nice glass cases mostly do.

— STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026