to hold on

Examples

• All

• We're holding on to the kid.

  Americana (2025)

• - Are you holding on? - Yes, I am.

  Bagman (2024)

• Give me your hands and I will Hold on tight.

• I know what it's like when they hold on too tight.

  Scream VI (2023)

• You better hold on tight and pray

  Barnyard (2006)

• Miraculously, Robert managed to hold on until the train reached its next stop.

  Academic text (2011)

• Daniel tried to pull away, but Jonathan held on to his collar.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Paul was sprawled back on the ground, still holding on to my wrist.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Don't hold on unless you need to, but if you want to hold on, that's OK.

  Academic text (1996)

• Hold on to that.

  RoboCop (2014)

Synonyms

G

to grab

vsto hold on

∞ 1.0

To take hold of something quickly with your hand

means holding firmly but without the sudden or rapid action

H

to hang

vsto hold on

∞ 2.7

To hold on tightly so you do not let go

is the same action but defined as gripping to avoid release

C

to cling

vsto hold on

240 2.1

To hold on tightly to someone or something and not let go

focuses more narrowly on gripping to avoid physical release

H

to hold onto

vsto hold on

180 3.0

To keep something and not let it go

means gripping specifically to avoid letting go

S

to squeeze

vsto hold on

119 1.6

To press something firmly with your hand or fingers

is more about keeping a grip rather than applying pressure

C

to clutch

vsto hold on

118 3.4

To hold something tightly with the hands or because of strong feeling

is similar but centers on preventing the object from slipping away

G

to grip

vsto hold on

85 1.3

To hold something or someone tightly, often to keep them safe

focuses on keeping firm contact to prevent release

C

to cling to

vsto hold on

61 3.4

To hold tightly to someone or something because of fear, need, affection

is similar but stresses preventing any release of the object

G

to grasp

vsto hold on

60 1.1

To take and hold something firmly with the hands

focuses on keeping a grip to avoid letting go

H

to hold tight

vsto hold on

• Informal

42 2.2

Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe

is used more for keeping a grip to avoid release

C

to clasp

vsto hold on

33 2.6

To hold a person or thing tightly with your hands

stresses maintaining a grip to prevent dropping or slipping

G

to get hold of

vsto hold on

24 2.5

To take something in your hand

focuses specifically on keeping the grip to avoid release

T

to take hold of

vsto hold on

21 3.1

Grab something or someone with your hands

is about holding firmly mainly to avoid letting go

T

to take hold

vsto hold on

15 2.0

To grasp something with your hands

emphasizes keeping the grip so it is not released

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 physical gripping to avoid dropping rather than commitment

H

to hold close

vsto hold on

1 1.4

Keep a person or thing tightly against your body

is about keeping a grip to prevent letting go rather than embracing

L

to latch on

vsto hold on

3.8

To hold on to something so it stays attached

is about actively keeping a grip to avoid letting go

Antonyms

L

to let go

∞ 1.4

To stop holding something or someone so they are free

How Tight

to clamp

47 3.3

to clutch

118 3.4

to hold on

141 2.0

to touch

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology