hang on

verb

Definition of hang onnext
1
as in to carry on

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in to hold on

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hang on Gene therapies and virtual-reality programs—which staged daily tasks, such as placing a fork on a plate, in high-contrast black-and-white—were helping adults with low vision hang on to what remained of their sight. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026 San José State transfer Leland Smith gives Iamaleava a big-bodied receiver that can make contested catches on the boundaries or hang on to balls over the middle of the field. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 Some did manage to hang on, especially on the two blocks that were done first, in particular the bars Lost Boy Dry Goods and Over Under, longtime street stalwarts. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 But so many of them hang on, in a city that, against all odds, continues to hang on to everything human and real and perhaps just a bit crazy. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hang on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hang on
  1. carry on
  2. hold on
  3. keep up
  4. hang around
  5. dig in
  6. wait
  7. persevere
  8. stick around
Verb
  • Devers hit a three-run home run in the second inning, Drew Gilbert hit a pair of rally-sparking doubles, and five Giants relievers carried on the momentum that Whisenhunt appeared to be building before his elbow lit up.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • What began as a single title has since grown into more than 400 books and counting, with Mike Berenstain now carrying on the family legacy.
    — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of carry on
Verb
  • Short n’ Sweet is her only collection to hold on to the Billboard 200 for triple-digit frames.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Welcome to a Friday Nightcaps — the one where NASCAR WAG Jordyn Mallory goes for a test ride and holds on for dear life in a Daytona tuneup.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hold on
Verb
  • Casual streams that rely on flipping the camera on won’t keep up as more sellers adopt her playbook.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The papers served to underline how central banks are struggling to keep up with challenges introduced by technology.
    — Maria Eloisa Capurro, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of keep up
Verb
  • In the logic of edutainment, random children hanging around in the company of a plush creature is nothing noteworthy.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Hartford has battled injuries to many of its key players but treaded water at 5-9-5 (W-D-L) and hung around the playoff line.
    — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of hang around
Verb
  • With everyone primed to dig in, only one-third of my students’ time with me is devoted to classic lecturing.
    — Jason Corso, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
  • By the end of the day, Khālid had fortified the palace and was prepared to dig in and fight.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of dig in
Verb
  • As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Marty Zweben Palos Verdes Estates Time for change The Dodgers look completely listless, and waiting for slumping veterans like Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker to snap out of it is a losing strategy.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of wait
Verb
  • As with her Remarkably Bright Creatures character Tova, whose spiky perfectionism is driven by pain, or even for Marcellus himself, whose frustration pushes him to persevere, Field has found her anger to be a tool of sorts.
    — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Through the ups and downs, one person who kept persevering was Coach Matt Grahn.
    — Briseida Holguin, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of persevere
Verb
  • But O’Connell, who serves somewhat as an in-between, gets to stick around as well.
    — Sam Warren, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Imperfect beauty was having a moment a year ago when CNN questioned whether the tired-girl look would stick around.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of stick around

Browse Nearby Words

hangmen
hang on
hang one on
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Cite this Entry

“Hang on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hang%20on. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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