as in holding up
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in remaining
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state
the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in waiting
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
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Recent Examples of holding on
Sara Belcher,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Argyle, a quiet community holding on to its rural roots, is at a crossroads with rapid growth and traffic congestion driving the need to widen FM 407, which goes through the town in southern Denton County.
—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Kaity Schultz's husband, Chris, said the road ahead will be long, but their family is holding on to hope.
—
Marissa Perlman,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Eveningside’s smaller arms holding on to the chains while Morningside’s longer arms propelled them, her fists and excess joints braced against the ground; their span lengthening, extending and retracting in the girls’ to and fro.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Now, holding on to Paredes may prove to be a season-saving decision.
—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Older employees are holding on to roles for longer, delaying the upward movement that typically creates space for new entrants.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Amid all that, Varsity Blues — about a Texas high-school football team rebelling against its abusive coach and holding on to one last gasp of glory before graduation — got a little lost.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Also, Southern California visits Nebraska with both sides holding on for dear life.
—
Jordan Mendoza,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Schmidt is currently holding on to the collection, though certain items are expected to be auctioned off to further support Stücke and LSVD+.
—
Sara Belcher,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Argyle, a quiet community holding on to its rural roots, is at a crossroads with rapid growth and traffic congestion driving the need to widen FM 407, which goes through the town in southern Denton County.
—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Kaity Schultz's husband, Chris, said the road ahead will be long, but their family is holding on to hope.
—
Marissa Perlman,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Eveningside’s smaller arms holding on to the chains while Morningside’s longer arms propelled them, her fists and excess joints braced against the ground; their span lengthening, extending and retracting in the girls’ to and fro.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Now, holding on to Paredes may prove to be a season-saving decision.
—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Older employees are holding on to roles for longer, delaying the upward movement that typically creates space for new entrants.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Amid all that, Varsity Blues — about a Texas high-school football team rebelling against its abusive coach and holding on to one last gasp of glory before graduation — got a little lost.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Also, Southern California visits Nebraska with both sides holding on for dear life.
—
Jordan Mendoza,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding on
Verb
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In a large bowl beat butter, oil, and the remaining 1/2 cup honey with a mixer on medium 30 seconds.
-
The remaining four states restrict participation through state education agencies or athletic association rules rather than official state legislation.
Verb
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With potentially record-breaking heat coming to Washington, DC on the Fourth of July, people wanting to catch fireworks by saving an early spot on the National Mall will have a lot of waiting to do.
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Alysa Guffey Twenty minutes of remonstrance kicked off, with a long line of people waiting for a chance to speak.
Verb
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Supermodel Gigi Hadid, wearing pink, and among the guests continuing to trickle in, as well as bestselling author Jenny Han and actor Bradley Cooper.
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The 36-year-old Spaniard breaks Roger Federer’s record by appearing in a 66th consecutive Grand Slam singles tournament, continuing a run that started at the 2002 French Open.
Verb
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The capital’s traditional Independence Day show had 10,000 shells lasting 18 minutes.
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The actress and singer met Skrip by chance while the two were vacationing in Egypt, with Williams later recalling that their unexpected encounter blossomed into a lasting romance.
Cite this Entry
“Holding on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20on. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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