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
Synonyms
- abide
- bide
- continue
- endure
- hold up
- keep up
- last
- perdure
- persist
- remain
- run on
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the ancient beliefs still held on in remote mountain villages hold on a minute—it's not your turn
Word History
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
hold on to
phrase
1
as in have
to keep in one's mind or heart She still holds on to that feeling. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- have
- hold
- hang on to
- retain
- cherish
- harbor
- entertain
- cultivate
- keep
- bear
- nurse
- remember
- maintain
- carry
- cleave (to)
- cling (to)
- stick (to)
- sustain
- foster
- support
- hug
- nurture
- treasure
- preserve
- brood (about or over)
- fixate (on or upon)
- obsess (about or over)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- forget
- ignore
- part (with)
- drop
- neglect
- disregard
- deny
- reject
- decline
- refuse
- overlook
- give up
- disdain
- scorn
- throw out
- quit
- abandon
- desert
- discard
- repudiate
- abjure
- renounce
- forsake
- erase
- expunge
2
as in clutch
to have or keep in one's hands I can hold on to your grocery bags while you open the door. Synonyms & Similar Words
- clutch
- grip
- clench
- hold
- grab
- cling (to)
- carry
- hang on to
- take
- cradle
- capture
- handle
- snatch
- bag
- hook
- trap
- hug
- feel
- latch (on or onto)
- land
- snare
- catch
- snap (up)
- seize
- grasp
- nab
- finger
- collar
- paw
- clasp
- nail
- corral
- grapple
- embrace
- bear
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hand
- give
- drop
- hand over
- hand out
- give up
- yield
- release
- deliver
- turn over
- render
- relinquish
- unclasp
- unhand
- cede
3
as in keep
to continue to have in one's possession or power He's trying to hold on to his position as chairman. Synonyms & Similar Words
- keep
- retain
- hold
- have
- save
- hang on to
- possess
- reserve
- preserve
- withhold
- protect
- guard
- conserve
- enjoy
- own
- cling (to)
- control
- boast
- rule
- direct
- manage
- detain
- treasure
- harbor
- cherish
- hug
- command
- bear
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hand over
- give up
- yield
- release
- surrender
- give
- drop
- contribute
- abandon
- hand out
- relinquish
- dump
- reject
- decline
- lose
- discard
- donate
- cede
- repudiate
- spurn