1 A2 informal
To hold something firmly so it does not fall or get lost.
"Hang onto your boarding pass — you'll need it at the gate."
hang onto
B1 informal transitive
To keep hold of something, physically or figuratively; to retain something.
In plain English
To not let go of something, or to keep something you have.
What does "hang onto" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To keep something you have and not give it up or sell it.
"The investor decided to hang onto her shares despite the falling market."
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
To maintain or keep a feeling, belief, or memory.
"He hung onto the hope that she would come back, even after years had passed."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hang (hold) onto (attached to) something so it doesn't escape.
Actually means
To not let go of something, or to keep something you have.
Usage tip
Used both literally (holding something tightly) and figuratively (keeping a job, memory, belief, or object). Very common in everyday speech. Can also express an instruction: 'Hang onto this for me.'
Words that pair with "hang onto"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
ticket receipt job memory hope belief hat
How to conjugate "hang onto"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hang onto
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hangs onto
he/she/it
Past simple
hung onto
yesterday
Past participle
hung onto
have + pp
-ing form
hanging onto
continuous
Hear "hang onto" in the wild
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Other ways to say "hang onto"
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Keep exploring
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