to hold onto

Examples

• All

• In all experiments, subjects were allowed to hold onto the bars with their hands as they wished.

  Academic text (1991)

• Why are you so determined to hold onto us?

  Bloodsuckers (2005)

• You guys, I held onto these forever.

• Find somebody you want to spend the rest of your life with and hold onto her forever.

  The Italian Job (2003)

• Just hold onto the rail.

  A Guy Thing (2003)

• Hold onto this for me.

  Fast Charlie (2023)

• You're still holding onto me.

  Dicks: The Musical (2023)

• Mostly we needed someone to hold onto, reassurance that we were alive and warm under the skin.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The younger campers held onto the rope with both hands, the older ones with a finger.

  Fiction book (1993)

• You should hold onto the railing to keep your balance while walking down the stairs.

Synonyms

K

to keep

vsto hold onto

∞ 1.0

To continue doing something or stay in the same state

is narrower, stressing physical grip or not letting go

H

to hang

vsto hold onto

∞ 2.7

To hold on tightly so you do not let go

is broader, covering keeping possession, not only avoiding loss of contact

C

to cling

vsto hold onto

240 2.1

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

is about keeping possession or grip rather than close attachment

H

to hold on

vsto hold onto

141 2.0

To keep a strong grip on something so it does not fall

focuses on keeping possession or not getting rid of something

C

to clutch

vsto hold onto

118 3.4

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

is more general, applying to keeping something rather than sudden emotion

C

to cling to

vsto hold onto

111 3.3

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

focuses on keeping a thing or grip rather than ongoing belief

G

to grip

vsto hold onto

85 1.3

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

is about continuing possession or not letting go over time

G

to grasp

vsto hold onto

60 1.1

To take and hold something firmly with the hands

emphasizes ongoing retention rather than the initial act of seizing

R

to retain

vsto hold onto

60 3.0

To hold something inside so it does not escape

is more physical and immediate, describing grasping or maintaining grip

H

to hold tight

vsto hold onto

• Informal

42 2.2

Grab something firmly with your hands to stay safe

is broader, meaning to keep or retain possession rather than only safety

S

to stick to

vsto hold onto

41 1.8

Stay attached to a surface

refers to keeping possession or not giving something away instead of attachment

H

to hold to

vsto hold onto

25 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

deals with keeping a thing or grip, not loyalty to ideas

G

to get hold of

vsto hold onto

24 2.5

To take something in your hand

adds the idea of keeping possession rather than only obtaining it

T

to take hold of

vsto hold onto

21 3.1

Grab something or someone with your hands

focuses on continued possession rather than a one-time seizure

A

to adhere

vsto hold onto

17 5.2

To stick firmly to a surface such as glass or plastic

concerns keeping or not getting rid of an object rather than surface bonding

T

to take hold

vsto hold onto

15 2.0

To grasp something with your hands

stresses holding onto or not giving something up afterward

H

to hold fast

vsto hold onto

11 5.5

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

focuses on keeping physical possession or grip rather than commitment

C

to cleave

vsto hold onto

• Literature

7 7.5

To stay very close to someone or something, often for support

describes retaining possession physically rather than loyalty or faithfulness

H

to hold close

vsto hold onto

1 1.4

Keep a person or thing tightly against your body

is more general, meaning to keep or retain rather than only embracing

L

to latch on

vsto hold onto

3.8

To hold on to something so it stays attached

is about actively keeping possession, not the process of attachment

Antonyms

L

to let go

∞ 1.4

To stop holding something or someone so they are free

D

to discard

130 2.7

To throw something away because you no longer want or need it

How Firmly

to cling

240 2.1

to clutch

118 3.4

to hold onto

180 3.0

to grasp

60 1.1

to hold

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology