Phrase guide

hold on

verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To grasp or grip firmly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Hold on tightly to the railing.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: belock, hold tight, beclasp, begrasp, begrip, clasp, clench, clinch, cling, clutch, enclasp, fang, fondle, glaum, grab, grabble, grasp, grip, hang on, hold on, hold, nab, nim, seize, stranglehold, take

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To keep; to store something for someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Hold on to my umbrella while I ride the roller coaster.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: keep, store

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To retain an advantage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I'm holding on to my trump cards until I really need them.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

Wait a short while.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Hold on while I get my coat.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cool one's heels, hang on, abide, back that train up, bide, bide one's time, expect, defer, hold on, hold one's breath, hold one's horses, hold one's water, hold out, mark time, stand by, stay, twiddle one's thumbs, wait

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To remain loyal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He didn't give up his fandom when others did; he held on.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: keep faith, abide by, hold on, go to the wall for someone, stand by, stick by, stick with

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To persist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go on, last, remain, abide, aby, astand, endure, lie, prevail, hold on, live, persist, stick, stick it out, stick out

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

be persistent, refuse to stop

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he persisted to call me every night
  • The child persisted and kept asking questions

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: persevere, persist, hang in, hang on

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: continue, uphold, carry on, bear on, preserve

Narrower terms: obstinate, ask for it, ask for trouble, plug, plug away, stick to, stick with, follow

8

verb

Meaning 8

stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or developments

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Hold on a moment!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stop

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: interrupt, break

9

verb

Meaning 9

hold the phone line open

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Please hang on while I get your folder

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hang on, hold the line

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: expect, look, await, wait

10

verb

Meaning 10

hold firmly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: grasp

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hold, take hold

Narrower terms: latch on, cling, hang, clasp

11

verb

Meaning 11

retain possession of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
  • She kept her maiden name after she married

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: keep

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: have, have got, hold

Narrower terms: carry over, hold over, deny, refuse, withhold, deduct, recoup, save, preserve, store, hive away, lay in, put in, salt away, stack away, stash away, retain, hold, keep back, hold back, harbor, harbour

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

62 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 且慢 (qiěmàn) — wait a minute
  • Dutch: wachten — wait a minute
  • Finnish: odottaa — wait a minute
  • German: warten — wait a minute
  • Hungarian: vár (egy kicsit: a minute) — wait a minute
  • Italian: aspettare un po' — wait a minute
  • Italian: aspettare un attimo — wait a minute
  • Italian: aspettare un momento — wait a minute
  • Italian: aspettare un istante — wait a minute
  • Italian: attendere — wait a minute
  • Japanese: ちょっと待つ (chotto matsu) — wait a minute
  • Polish: czekać — wait a minute
  • Polish: poczekać — wait a minute
  • Polish: zaczekać — wait a minute
  • Portuguese: esperar um pouco — wait a minute
  • Russian: подождать (podoždatʹ) — wait a minute
  • Russian: повременить (povremenitʹ) — wait a minute
  • Spanish: aguantar — wait a minute
  • Spanish: bancar — wait a minute
  • Swedish: dröja — wait a minute
  • Swedish: vänta — wait a minute
  • Tagalog: sandali — wait a minute
  • Thai: ช้าก่อน (cháa-gɔ̀ɔn) — wait a minute
  • Dutch: vasthouden — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Esperanto: alteniĝi — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Finnish: pitää kiinni — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • French: s'accrocher — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • German: anhalten — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • German: festhalten — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Hungarian: kapaszkodik — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Hungarian: megkapaszkodik — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Hungarian: belekapaszkodik — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Italian: tenersi — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Italian: aggrapparsi — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Polish: trzymać się — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Polish: przytrzymywać się — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Polish: przytrzymać się — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Russian: держаться (deržatʹsja) — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Swedish: hålla — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Swedish: hålla i — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Swedish: vakta — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Tagalog: hawak — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Turkish: tutunmak — to hold, grasp, or grip
  • Finnish: säilyttää — to keep; to store something for someone
  • French: garder — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Hungarian: vigyáz — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Italian: tenere — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Italian: conservare — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Polish: przetrzymywać — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Polish: przetrzymać — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Russian: подержать (poderžatʹ) — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Swedish: hålla i sig — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Tagalog: pahawak — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Tagalog: pabantay — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Tagalog: patago — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Turkish: saklamak — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Turkish: tutmak — to keep; to store something for someone
  • Finnish: pysyä lujana — stay loyal
  • Hungarian: kitart (mellette) — stay loyal
  • Polish: trwać przy — stay loyal
  • Swedish: förbli lojal — stay loyal
  • Turkish: sadık kalmak — stay loyal