Phrase guide

on hold

prep_phrase · 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

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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Delayed; postponed; suspended.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • This project is on hold until we can get more information.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Waiting on a telephone call.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I have been on hold for 45 minutes listening to a recording about how important my call is to them.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

prep_phrase

Meaning 3

On reserve; being held for someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I have a book on hold for me at the library.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

prep_phrase

Meaning 4

Pertaining to a telephone hold state.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: задържан (zadǎržan) — waiting on a telephone call
  • German: in der Warteschleife gesteckt — waiting on a telephone call
  • German: in der Warteschleife gehangen — waiting on a telephone call
  • German: in der Leitung gewartet — waiting on a telephone call
  • German: auf das Abheben gewartet — waiting on a telephone call
  • Polish: czekający na linii — waiting on a telephone call
  • Spanish: en espera — waiting on a telephone call
  • Finnish: varattuna — on reserve
  • Finnish: varalla — on reserve
  • German: reserviert — on reserve
  • Hungarian: félretéve — on reserve
  • Polish: odłożony na później — on reserve
  • Bulgarian: на задържано обаждане (na zadǎržano obaždane) — pertaining to a telephone hold state
  • Dutch: in de wachtstand — pertaining to a telephone hold state
  • German: Warteschleifen- — pertaining to a telephone hold state
  • Polish: przerwany — pertaining to a telephone hold state