hold on

verb

held on; holding on; holds on

intransitive verb

1

a

: to maintain a condition or position : persist

b

: to maintain a grasp on something : hang on

2

: to await something (such as a telephone connection) desired or requested

broadly : wait

Phrases

hold on to

: to maintain possession of or adherence to

Synonyms

• abide
• bide
• continue
• endure
• hold up
• keep up
• last
• perdure
• persist
• remain
• run on

Examples of hold on in a Sentence

the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages

hold on a minute—it's not your turn

Recent Examples on the Web

But folks who had been holding on to legacy free accounts for about a decade objected, so Google backtracked and let people keep their accounts free of charge — but only for personal use. —Allison Johnson, The Verge, 24 May 2024

And we were reminded of San Diego Street Scene — when it was held on the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter in the 1980s and 1990s — with new musical discoveries awaiting around almost every corner. —George Varga, Twin Cities, 21 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

hold on

verb

1

: to keep a hold

2

: wait entry 1 sense 1a