How to Use holding pattern in a Sentence

holding pattern

noun
  • Our plane was in a holding pattern for almost an hour because of the fog.
  • Any third-round holding pattern couldn’t drag on too far, though.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
  • Still, there are questions about how long the holding pattern can last.
    — Will Weissert, chicagotribune.com, 19 Sep. 2019
  • The holding pattern gives space for others to jump in and shape the market.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 26 Mar. 2026
  • 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
  • Biden's remarks come as his campaign is in a holding pattern.
    — Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 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 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
  • My big plan to go back for a few weeks every year is in a permanent holding pattern.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN, 3 July 2021
  • Thus is the film’s strange, languid erotic holding pattern set.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 Feb. 2024
  • 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
  • Peto is among the thousands of minor leaguers in a holding pattern.
    — Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2020
  • Right now, though, the new Wildcat head football coach is in a holding pattern of sorts.
    — Ted Dunnam, Houston Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2018
  • Behind the scenes, Democrats were left in an awkward holding pattern.
    — Philip Elliott, TIME, 19 July 2024
  • One of the game’s brightest talents remains in a holding pattern.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
  • The data reflect one of the ways that life has fallen into a holding pattern for many.
    — Bloomberg, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026
  • 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
  • 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
  • What the new coach faces The Hornets are in a holding pattern of sorts in football.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 2025
  • The Ducks and Beavers football programs are in a holding pattern.
    — John Canzano, oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2020
  • Waiting for this position has me in a holding pattern and has kept me from moving forward.
    — Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2021
  • Are the Texans just going to be in a holding pattern until the end of the season?
    — Stephanie Stradley, Houston Chronicle, 9 Oct. 2020
  • But this summer has felt more like a holding pattern for the league than any summer in recent memory.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, SI.com, 10 July 2018
  • Across New York’s school system, teachers are in a holding pattern.
    — Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2022
  • Either way, at least the agonizing holding pattern would be over.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Many businesses in his industry have been in a holding pattern for much of the past 18 months.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
  • Meanwhile, the Perseverance rover has been in a bit of a holding pattern.
    — Mike Wehner, BGR, 4 May 2021
  • The wording of the treaty creates a unique and artfully crafted holding pattern.
    — Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024
  • But in recent weeks, they've been stuck in a holding pattern as investors hunt for the next big catalyst that could send shares higher.
    — Julia Horowitz, CNN, 8 June 2021

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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