# hold on to

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hold-on-to
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to keep something in your hand or keep it for yourself instead of giving it away.

For teachers: to maintain a physical grip on an object or to retain possession of something rather than selling or discarding it.

## Examples

- Hold on to the railing so you don't fall.
- You should hold on to those old records because they might be worth a lot of money one day.
- Despite the economic downturn, the investors decided to hold on to their shares in the hope of a market recovery.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He held on his hat in the wind." but "He held on to his hat in the wind." — the preposition 'to' is essential to connect the action to the object being held.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a physical object or an abstract possession like an idea or a memory.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'keep' (more general) and 'cling to' (implies a desperate or emotional need to keep something); 'hold on to' is the standard phrasal verb for physical and literal retention.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.