hold on

present singular third person holds on · participle present holding on · participle past held on · past held on

1. To grasp or grip firmly.

   Hold on tightly to the railing.

   Synonyms: belock, hold tight, beclasp, begrasp, begrip, belock, clasp, clench

2. idiomaticTo keep; to store something for someone.

   Hold on to my umbrella while I ride the roller coaster.

   Synonyms: keep, store

3. idiomaticTo retain an advantage.

   I'm holding on to my trump cards until I really need them.

4. idiomaticWait a short while.

   Hold on while I get my coat.

   1 more example

   The departure was not unduly prolonged. In the road Mr. Love and the driver favoured the company with a brief chanty running. “Got it?—No, I ain't, 'old on,—Got it? Got it?—No, 'old on sir.”

   1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC

   Synonyms: cool one's heels, hang on, abide, back that train up, bide, bide one's time, expect, defer

5. idiomaticTo remain loyal.

   He didn't give up his fandom when others did; he held on.

   Synonyms: keep faith, abide by, keep faith, go to the wall for someone, stand by, stick by, stick with

6. idiomaticTo persist.

   This trade held on for many years.

   1723, Jonathan Swift, Some Arguments Against Enlarging the Power of Bishops

   1 more example

   That scare aside, Wolves had little trouble in holding on for their first league away win of the season and their first over the Reds since little-known striker Steve Mardenborough gave them a victory at Anfield in January 1984.

   2010 December 29, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0-1 Wolverhampton”, in BBC

   Synonyms: go on, last, remain, abide, aby, astand, endure, go on