How to Use holding pattern in a Sentence

holding pattern

noun
Definition of holding patternnext
Synonyms for holding patternnext
  • Our plane was in a holding pattern for almost an hour because of the fog.
  • The Pac-12 is in a holding pattern of its own right now.
    — Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 July 2022
  • The league, like most of the world, is in a holding pattern waiting for the worst of the virus to run its course.
    — Jeff McDonald, ExpressNews.com, 14 Mar. 2020
  • For the next hour and a half the plane flew holding patterns, waiting for a break in the storm, but none came.
    — Jeff Wise, Popular Mechanics, 25 Apr. 2016
  • The minor leagues have been in a holding pattern since March.
    — Jeremy Cluff, azcentral, 15 June 2020
  • All of which leaves Schumer in something of a holding pattern.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 23 Apr. 2021
  • In the broader view, however, the price of oil looks to be stuck in a holding pattern.
    — Daniel J Graeber, Houston Chronicle, 24 Aug. 2020
  • Are the Texans just going to be in a holding pattern until the end of the season?
    — Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 9 Oct. 2020
  • Still, there are questions about how long the holding pattern can last.
    — Will Weissert, chicagotribune.com, 19 Sep. 2019
  • The Ducks and Beavers football programs are in a holding pattern.
    — John Canzano, oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2020
  • Right now, though, the new Wildcat head football coach is in a holding pattern of sorts.
    — Ted Dunnam, Houston Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2018
  • The Raiders remained in a holding pattern in terms of heading to the airport Friday.
    — Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 17 Dec. 2021
  • But the result, for the families, is a holding pattern.
    — Dara Lind, Vox, 2 Aug. 2018
  • If the Sixers and Clippers remain in that holding pattern for the next few months, both could grow to regret it.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 17 July 2023
  • Peto is among the thousands of minor leaguers in a holding pattern.
    — Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2020
  • The Celtics and Grant Williams appeared to be in a bit of a holding pattern during the first full day of free agency Saturday.
    — Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 1 July 2023
  • Now the world is in a sort of information holding pattern.
    — Helen Regan, CNN, 29 Nov. 2021
  • My big plan to go back for a few weeks every year is in a permanent holding pattern.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN, 3 July 2021
  • Brady, 43, and Aaron Rodgers, 37, could extend his holding pattern.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2021
  • If there’s no roadmap there -- or a team fails to match Morey’s demand -- the two sides could remain in an awkward holding pattern.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 23 Sep. 2021
  • One of the game’s brightest talents remains in a holding pattern.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
  • That distraction has been part of the A’s scene for about 20 years now, but gets messier by the day, creating the feeling that the A’s are trapped in a weird holding pattern.
    — Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Aug. 2021
  • SpaceX had been a holding pattern waiting for that approval, which had been in question due in part to the consequences of the first test.
    — NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023
  • For us, not being able to tour and having our crew and bandmates in a holding pattern, this is humbling.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2022
  • In response to questions, Scott's spokeswoman, Stephanie Jackson, said that the city was in a holding pattern.
    — Tess Vrbin, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2021
  • And with their sunflowers out of sync, some farmers have found themselves in a bit of a holding pattern.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 22 July 2019
  • Biden's remarks come as his campaign is in a holding pattern.
    — Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2020
  • Meanwhile, the Perseverance rover has been in a bit of a holding pattern.
    — Mike Wehner, BGR, 4 May 2021
  • The result is a likely holding pattern for drought responses over the next two years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
    — Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 16 May 2024
  • No, until Biden announced his plans to step aside on Sunday afternoon, the Harris orbit was largely kept in a loyal holding pattern.
    — Philip Elliott, TIME, 26 July 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holding pattern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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