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]

Example Sentences

Woo begins shivering and holding on to Autumn’s ear, as if that’ll somehow keep her from disappearing.

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But if Strøm could stand there without holding on, so could she.

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“Yes, of course! It is a wonderful prize...no, not this old poetry book, hold on....Eureka! Here it is: a lovely fountain pen.”

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Lady Constance had held on desperately while Nutsawoo perched not six inches away from her face, gazing pleadingly into her eyes.

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Penelope waited until the wind died down before continuing, this time with one hand holding on to her hat.

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Related Words

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