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

This may seem like esoterica — but hold on, queen.

From Salon

"There, under the night sky, we sat freely - in great faith - with our little lights, holding on to what resources we had," Mr Pareja wrote on Facebook.

From BBC

Mariah Carey says she has a duet with Michael Jackson on deck, but alleges his estate is holding on to it for a planned ‘bigger release.’

From Los Angeles Times

Israel's participation in football was not included as a formal item on the agenda of a Fifa council meeting held on Thursday.

From BBC

But Philadelphia’s defense is starting to settle in as well, and the Eagles have enough to hold on at home.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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