Hold on means to wait or pause for a moment. When your mom says “hold on” while she's on the phone, she's asking you to wait patiently until she's ready to listen. When a teacher says “hold on a second” before answering your question, she needs a moment to finish what she's doing first.

The phrase can also mean to grip something tightly. You hold on to the railing when walking down steep stairs, or hold on to your hat on a windy day. During a bumpy car ride, a parent might warn, “Hold on tight!” This meaning connects to the waiting sense: when you hold on, you're keeping your grip while something else happens.

When someone says “hold on” during a conversation, they might be asking you to stop and reconsider: “Hold on, are you sure that's what happened?” Here the phrase means “wait, let's think about this.”

You can also hold on to something you value, like holding on to a special toy from when you were little, or holding on to hope that things will get better. In tough situations, people sometimes encourage each other to hold on, meaning to persevere and not give up, even when things are difficult.