HANGING ON Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

hanging on

verb

present participle of hang on

as in keeping up

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as in holding on

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging on

Verb

The report also reflected that wages are not keeping up with inflation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
The record-high stock prices are helping investors feel better about their finances, or at least less bad, when Americans are generally feeling discouraged about keeping up with the fast-rising cost of living.

— Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of keeping up

Verb

Fixed on a mobile rig that will at times careen and whoosh across the stage when not otherwise holding on Winter, Anderson’s camera catches the expressionism and chiaroscuro of stage lights illuminating and fading off the singer’s face.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
Walter didn’t publicly step down from any roles after the stroke, holding on to control of a vast portfolio.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of holding on

Verb

In the tangled greenery of a Ugandan national park, mountain gorillas sit among the leaves, calmly carrying on as tourists trek into their forest home.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
The acquisition also puts Lewis in the somewhat unusual position of carrying on the businesses of two veteran New York printmakers who helped shape his career.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of carrying on

Verb

One bonus has been the discovery that feline family members of various New York households especially enjoy hanging around the batteries.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Then there’s snake, tiger, zebra, and deer print…cow print is still hanging around too.

— Fiona Ward, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of hanging around

Verb

Cityside, guests can head to the thumping heart of Austin nightlife where the Live Music Capital of the World always has a new favorite act and dance floor to cut up waiting just around the corner.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Expect the usual book-length liner notes typical to everything Feldman oversees, which are just part of what make these worth picking up in LP format for RSD and not waiting for the CD edition to follow.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of waiting

Verb

Torrey Lovullo is sticking around; the Diamondbacks manager has signed a two-year extension.

— Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
But if the symptoms are sticking around, especially after a dose change, don’t be shy about speaking up at your next appointment.

— Korin Miller, Allure, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of sticking around

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Style

“Hanging on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging%20on. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hanging on

verb

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