1 A2 informal
To wait; used as a command or request.
"Hang on a second — I'll be right with you."
hang on
A2 informal intransitive
To wait; to hold onto something; or to persist through difficulty.
In plain English
To wait, to hold something tightly, or to keep going when things are hard.
What does "hang on" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To hold tightly to something for support or safety.
"Hang on to the railing — the path is slippery."
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
To continue doing something despite difficulty; to persist.
"The company managed to hang on through the financial crisis, unlike many of its competitors."
4 B2 idiomatic neutral
To depend on something critically.
"Everything hangs on whether the board approves the new budget."
“
"A great deal hangs on the outcome of these negotiations."
— The Guardian, general news coverage
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hang (hold) on (attached) to something.
Actually means
To wait, to hold something tightly, or to keep going when things are hard.
Usage tip
Extremely high-frequency phrasal verb with several uses. As a command ('Hang on!') it means 'wait'. As an instruction during movement ('Hang on tight!') it means 'hold firmly'. Figuratively it means to persist. Very common in all varieties of English.
Words that pair with "hang on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tight minute second moment phone idea
How to conjugate "hang on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hang on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hangs on
he/she/it
Past simple
hung on
yesterday
Past participle
hung on
have + pp
-ing form
hanging on
continuous
Hear "hang on" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "hang on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "hang on"
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Keep exploring
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