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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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
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
-
What Hilton is right about California’s population is highly concentrated, while much of the state’s land remains rural or undeveloped.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Burrow has dealt with injuries throughout his career but remains one of the premier talents at the position when healthy.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
-
That 41-point gap is a measure of who is absorbing the risk while the country waits for a plan.—
Karen Kornbluh,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Unlike the high school recruiting process, the portal window lasts about two weeks — not months (or in some cases, years).—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Khan says the conversation is shifting toward how long denim lasts and what happens at the end of a garment’s life.—
Catherine Salfino,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
That number could balloon as Runway 4/22 stays offline into Saturday.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
22 May 2026
-
Delays in care can allow symptoms to escalate, increasing the likelihood of emergency room visits or inpatient stays — outcomes that are more disruptive and expensive.—
Dr. David Pryor,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
As the beaded trend continues its evolution from accessories to apparel, summer 2026 is shaping up to be the season of the beaded swimsuit.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
-
The fun continues in the carriages.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20on. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
