hold on

verb

1. to maintain a firm grasp

   she held on with all her strength

2. to continue or persist

3. (foll by to) to keep or retain

   hold on to those stamps as they'll soon be valuable

4. to keep a telephone line open

interjection

1. informal,  stop! wait!

Idioms and Phrases

Also, hold on to . Maintain one's grip, cling, as in Hold on to your hat in this wind , or The early Christians held on to their beliefs despite strong opposition . [Early 1500s]

Continue to do something, persist, as in Please hold on for a while longer . [Late 1800s]

Stop, wait, as in Hold on! We can't go past this gate . [Mid-1800s]

Remain on a telephone line, as in If you can hold on a minute I'll go and find her . [Late 1800s]

Related Words

• exist 
• go on 
• hold 
• linger 
• live 
• live on 
• persist 
• remain 
• ride out 
• stay 
• survive 
• sustain