to hold on

Examples

• All

• You won a small prize, keep holding on to win a bigger prize.

• It's very important as you hold on to that dream.

  Evan Carmichael

• Or is she still holding on to that relationship?

• I can only hold on for so long, you know what to do.

  Final Destination (2000)

• We just have to hold on now and not go soft inside... stick close together the way we started out.

  Double Indemnity (1944)

• But the women still seem to believe in love, holding on to that chance.

  Fiction book (1990)

• But I would tell myself, hold on to those moments because they shape you.

• John Ross says we must remain united and hold on to the land.

  Fiction book (1994)

• The Clinton administration found itself fighting hard simply to hold on to prior gains.

  Academic text (1996)

• When times get tough, you just have to hold on and keep pushing forward.

Synonyms

C

to continue

vsto hold on

586 1.0

To stay in the same job or role

implies determined effort to act despite difficulty rather than mere remaining

K

to keep going

vsto hold on

357 1.6

To continue doing something without stopping

is about determined effort particularly under opposition rather than mere nonstop action

S

to stick to

vsto hold on

343 3.0

Keep doing something without changing it, for example following a plan

is more about personal determination to keep acting despite difficulty

S

to stick with

vsto hold on

341 3.6

Keep doing or supporting something even when it is difficult

is focused on personal determined action rather than support or loyalty

C

to carry on

vsto hold on

253 2.7

To continue doing something after an interruption or when it is difficult

is about firm determination to continue despite opposition rather than simple resumption

H

to hold onto

vsto hold on

180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

is about determined effort to continue an action rather than keeping possession

H

to hang in

vsto hold on

• Informal

167 3.6

To keep trying and not give up when things are hard

is about persistent determination especially against active opposition rather than informal trying

H

to hold up

vsto hold on

163 3.7

To remain strong or effective under pressure

is about active determined effort rather than passive ability to endure

H

to hold out

vsto hold on

139 3.7

To refuse to give up until you get what you want

is more about ongoing determined effort rather than temporary resistance

C

to cling to

vsto hold on

111 3.3

To hold tightly to something or keep believing something strongly in hard times

is about determined doing rather than holding belief or physical grip

P

to persist

vsto hold on

62 3.7

To keep doing something or keep holding a belief despite difficulty

is about staying determined in action despite difficulty rather than mere opinion

H

to hang on

vsto hold on

• Informal

46 3.3

To continue doing something and refuse to give up

expresses the same determined refusal phrased as steady ongoing effort

P

to push through

vsto hold on

39 3.6

To keep going despite problems until you finish

focuses on steady determination rather than the act of forcing progress

P

to press on

vsto hold on

26 3.9

To keep going with a task even when it is hard

emphasizes determined persistence in a general sense rather than forward motion

H

to hold to

vsto hold on

25 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

is about determined doing of something rather than loyalty or rule obedience

K

to keep on

vsto hold on

24 2.2

Continue to have someone working for you

is specifically about determined effort to keep doing something despite problems

P

to persevere

vsto hold on

22 5.1

Keep trying to do something even when it is hard

is broader, covering determined ongoing effort rather than formal striving

P

to push on

vsto hold on

21 3.7

Move forward or keep going despite difficulty

covers determined ongoing action rather than physical forward movement alone

P

to persist in

vsto hold on

20 4.1

To keep doing something even when it is difficult or people disagree

is the general everyday phrasing for the same determined continuation

C

to carry on with

vsto hold on

19 2.6

Continue doing something after a pause or interruption

is stronger, implying determined effort despite obstacles rather than mere resumption

H

to hold fast

vsto hold on

11 5.5

To stay firmly attached to something or keep believing strongly in an idea

focuses on determined action to continue rather than loyalty to a belief

H

to hold firm

vsto hold on

9 4.5

To refuse to change your opinion or decision despite pressure

is about active continued effort rather than fixed refusal of change

H

to hold the line

vsto hold on

8 5.4

To refuse to change a decision or rule under pressure

is centered on persistent action rather than defensive stance maintenance

T

to take a licking and keep on ticking

vsto hold on

• Archaic

1 9.2

To keep going without giving up after facing many hard times

is about determined persistence in action rather than simple resilience

K

to keep on pushing through

vsto hold on

• Informal

5.1

To continue to try hard even when things are difficult

is the act of staying determined and refusing to give up

H

to hold onto someone's dreams

vsto hold on

4.8

To keep trying to reach a goal even when things are hard

is more general, covering determined continuation beyond personal aspiration focus

P

persisting

vsto hold on

4.4

Continuing to try despite problems

is similar but often used in everyday contexts for steady determination

Antonyms

G

to give up

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

Q

to quit

653 1.5

To stop trying when something is too hard

How Persistent

to power through

• Informal

8 4.2

to persist

62 3.7

to hold on

173 3.3

to waver

52 5.7

to give up

∞ 1.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology