expression

hold on

to wait; to grip firmly

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) wait for a short time

2. (verb) grip something tightly

3. (verb) continue or persist despite difficulties

Examples

1. Hold on, I need to find my keys before we leave.
2. Hold on to the rope so you don't fall.
3. The company is holding on despite the economic crisis.

How to use hold on

Hold on is a versatile phrasal verb with three primary senses: requesting someone to wait briefly (most common in spoken English), gripping something firmly, or persisting through difficulty. It is widely used in informal conversation and is more natural than formal alternatives like 'wait' or 'maintain one's grip' in most everyday contexts.

Common phrases

hold on a moment
hold on tight
hold on to hope
hold on for dear life
just hold on

Synonyms

wait · hang on · hold tight · grip · persist

Opposites

let go · release · give up

Word family

holder · holding · held

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'hold on' without a preposition when they mean to grip or depend on something, writing 'hold on hope' instead of 'hold on to hope' or 'hold on my hand' instead of 'hold on to my hand'.

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