hold on
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle on
Meanings
Wait for a short time
Why “on”? An action, event, state, or path continues or moves to a later point.
“Hold on, you dropped your keys.”
“"Hold on," security told Maya and Leo while checking the club list.”
“Hold on. The lift is almost here.”
Grip something tightly to avoid falling
Why “on”? Something touches, grips, or sticks to a surface.
“Hold on to the rope.”
“The bus turned sharply, but Omar held on to the seat.”
“I slipped on the ice but held on to the fence.”
Endure or persist through difficulty
“Just hold on a little longer.”
“The injured climber held on until help arrived.”
Don't confuse with
Hold on means wait for a short time. Hold off means wait before doing something.
Test yourself
“Hold on, you dropped your keys.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
hold off
A contrast learners often mix up
Wait before doing something
bring on
Same on pattern: continuation
Cause something, especially an illness or feeling, to start; Help someone or something develop or improve
carry on
Same on pattern: continuation
Continue doing something; Behave in a silly, loud or annoying way; Have a romantic affair, often secretly
catch on
Same on pattern: continuation
Become popular or fashionable; Begin to understand something
come on
Same on pattern: continuation
Used to encourage, hurry or challenge someone; Begin to develop, especially an illness or weather; Start working or be turned on; Make progress or improve; Show romantic or sexual interest in someone, often in a direct way; Be broadcast on television or radio
crack on
Same on pattern: continuation
Continue working hard, often after a break
drag on
Same on pattern: continuation
Continue for too long in a tedious way
drone on
Same on pattern: continuation
Talk for a long time in a boring, monotonous voice
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “hold on”.
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