1
as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
the couple has been trapped in this holding pattern for six months, as adoption officials create more red tape
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding pattern
This holding pattern often manifests in subtle yet consequential ways.
—
Ginni Saraswati, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Multiple federal agencies trying to implement sweeping changes and reductions sought by the Trump administration have been in a holding pattern as legal challenges make their way through the courts.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
Like other economic factors, including capital expenditures and consumer spending levels, employment conditions are in a holding pattern as companies wait to see where U.S. tariff policy lands amid President Trump’s ongoing trade war and his fragile truce with top trading partner China.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 3 June 2025
Normally her social media is overwhelmed by memes about missing home and her mother, two topics weighing on her heart over the seven months she was stuck in a migratory holding pattern in Mexico City, where The Christian Science Monitor first met her.
—Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for holding pattern
Ginni Saraswati, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Multiple federal agencies trying to implement sweeping changes and reductions sought by the Trump administration have been in a holding pattern as legal challenges make their way through the courts.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
Like other economic factors, including capital expenditures and consumer spending levels, employment conditions are in a holding pattern as companies wait to see where U.S. tariff policy lands amid President Trump’s ongoing trade war and his fragile truce with top trading partner China.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 3 June 2025
Normally her social media is overwhelmed by memes about missing home and her mother, two topics weighing on her heart over the seven months she was stuck in a migratory holding pattern in Mexico City, where The Christian Science Monitor first met her.
—Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for holding pattern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding pattern
Noun
-
At least one opposition party has called for his suspension.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
-
The memo also calls for the temporary suspension of LEP.gov, a federal website for people with limited English proficiency.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
And those assessments could cause delays that Trump may wish to avoid in pushing for widespread AI adoption across government.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
24 July 2025
-
With the delay in Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting, the company has not yet published a proxy report to shareholders, which typically includes executive compensation disclosures.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
The dense woods surrounding the trail offer an atmospheric backdrop for the series’ moments of suspense in every episode.—
Darah Derios,
Charlotte Observer,
22 July 2025
-
But unlike the average thriller, his movies draw suspense less from incident and surprise and more from emotional dislocation.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Across the United States, the average wait time is 48 days between when a patient initially contacts a provider for mental healthcare and their first appointment.—
Amanda Marlar,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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That's a stark contrast from typical wait times for a new patient appointment at other types of clinics, which can average more than a month.—
Sarah Volpenhein,
jsonline.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
The new cold storage complex is expected to result in 200 new jobs.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
22 July 2025
-
Although the bacterium can contaminate many types of food, cheeses or deli meats that are kept in cold storage for long periods in stores or at home, are a place where Listeria can keep growing.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holding pattern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20pattern. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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