Meaning & use
hang on to
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To keep something and not give it away or lose it.
Grammar: Takes an object after 'to': hang on to your receipt.
Patterns
- hang on to something
You should hang on to your old photos; they might be valuable.
She decided to hang on to the car for another year.
Hang on to your ticket; you'll need it to get back in.
verbtransitive
To hold something tightly, especially to avoid falling or losing it.
Grammar: Takes an object after 'to': hang on to the railing.
Patterns
- hang on to something
Hang on to the rope while you climb.
The child hung on to her mother's hand.
He hung on to the edge of the boat.
verbtransitive
To continue to have or believe something, such as a hope or idea.
Grammar: Takes an object after 'to': hang on to a hope.
Patterns
- hang on to something
Even in hard times, she hung on to her dreams.
He still hangs on to the belief that people are good.
Don't hang on to outdated ideas.
Word forms
| third person singular | hangs on to |
|---|---|
| past tense | hung on to |
| past participle | hung on to |
| -ing form | hanging on to |
Common combinations
- hang on to your hat
- Hang on to your hat; it's going to be a wild ride!
- hang on to a memory
- She hangs on to the memory of her grandmother.
- hang on to power
- The dictator tried to hang on to power.
- hang on to something tightly
- He hung on to the railing tightly as the ship rocked.
Synonyms and how they differ
- keep
- A more general verb meaning to have and not give away; 'hang on to' is more informal and often implies difficulty in keeping.
- retain
- More formal and often used in business or legal contexts; 'hang on to' is everyday language.
- hold on to
- Very similar, but 'hold on to' is more physical and can also mean to wait; 'hang on to' is more about keeping possession.
Opposites
Commonly confused: hang on to or hang on? hang on to or hang up?
hang on to vs hang on
This can mean to wait or to hold tightly, but without 'to' it does not take an object: 'Hang on a minute.'
hang on to vs hang up
This means to end a phone call or to put clothes on a hook; it is different from keeping something.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The phrasal verb 'hang on to' is inseparable, so the object 'the old letters' comes after 'to'. Option 1 is correct. Option 2 is wrong because 'hang on' without 'to' does not take an object in this sense. Option 3 is wrong because the object cannot come after 'for years'. Option 4 is wrong because 'for years ago' is not a valid time expression.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hang on to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.