Phrase guide

holding pattern

noun · 4 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A path taken by an aircraft waiting to land.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • The plane flew in a holding pattern for half an hour because one runway was closed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any failure to advance; useless or unproductive activity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • This project is in a holding pattern until all the parts arrive.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: air lane, flight path, airway, skyway

4

noun

Meaning 4

a state of inaction with no progress and no change

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • you should go into a holding pattern until he gets over his disappointment

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: inaction, inactivity, inactiveness

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 等待航線 /等待航线 — path of aircraft
  • Czech: vyčkávací obrazec — path of aircraft
  • Danish: venteposition — path of aircraft
  • Dutch: wachtpatroon — path of aircraft
  • Finnish: odotuskierros — path of aircraft
  • Finnish: odotuskuvio — path of aircraft
  • German: Warteschleife — path of aircraft
  • Hungarian: várakozási útvonal/kör/rendszer — path of aircraft
  • Chinese Mandarin: 原地踏步 (yuándìtàbù) — failure to advance
  • Dutch: wachtstand — failure to advance
  • Finnish: pito (olla pidossa) — failure to advance