1. Hold firmly
   "He held on to the rope tightly";
   - grasp
    
2. Retain possession of
   "He decided to hold on to his grandfather's watch";
   - keep
    
3. Be persistent, refuse to stop
   "Despite the setbacks, she held on with her research";
   - persevere, persist, hang in [informal], hang on
    
4. Stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or developments
   "Hold on a moment!";
   - stop
    
5. Hold the phone line open
   "Please hold on while I get your folder";
   - hang on, hold the line

Derived forms: holding on, holds on, held on

See also: keep back, withhold

Type of: await, bear on, break, carry on, continue, expect, have, have got, hold, interrupt, look, preserve, uphold, wait

Antonym: lose

Encyclopedia: Hold on