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

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
The department’s administrative case runs on its own timeline under Chapter 302 of the Missouri Revised Statutes while the criminal prosecution moves through court, and neither one waits for the other.

— Karen Koehler, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of waits

Verb

Exactly how long this period lasts can vary widely from card to card.

— Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 14 Oct. 2026
Whether the trend lasts may depend on whether shoppers keep enjoying the products themselves or lose interest once the excitement around each release fades.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of lasts

Verb

Our ambition is to bring together creative and operational talent within a group that stays human in scale.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
The other two judges, Kelly and Tymkovich, concluded the NCAA made a sufficient showing under the factors governing stays pending appeal, including on the merits and irreparable harm.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of stays

Verb

The victim continues to experience symptoms from the poisoning, including not being able to focus, tiring easily and a loss of sensation in his left hand, Gomelsky said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
Martínez continues to lead the company alongside Luis Miguel Calvo, head of content at Gersh International.

— Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026