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
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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
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Recent Examples of holds on
The camera holds on them mid-ascent.
—
Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds on
Verb
-
The spa Wellness remains high on the list of 1 Hotel Tokyo’s biggest draws.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Still, Iran -- now led by the son of the supreme leader killed in the war's opening salvo -- remains capable of missile and drone attacks.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust’s portfolio.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
-
In Puerto Rico, everyone just puts up tents, waits 10 minutes, and keeps going.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For hedge funds, much now depends on how long the conflict and the oil disruption lasts, experts said.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The pigment lasts all day without smearing.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As Leland, a teen who kills his ex-girlfriend’s developmentally disabled brother, Gosling mostly stays blank and vacant; his unwavering reticence is required by Matthew Ryan Hoge’s script, which relies on a final reveal to justify its existence.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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This is a story about someone who’s lonely on Earth, makes a friend in space, and stays there.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Denise Amber Lee Foundation, created by her husband Nathan Lee, continues to promote training and raise public awareness nationwide.—
DAVID FISCHER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
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As their investigation continues, LBPD detectives asked anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them at (562) 570-7355.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20on. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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