was on hold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was on hold" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe when something has been postponed or temporarily suspended. For example: The project was on hold while the team evaluated the new data.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A spokeswoman for Astra said the funding was "on hold".

The Guardian - Business

Thorn said the deal was "on hold," but not dead.

The New York Times - Sports

In Azerbaijan, Trump has a real estate project he said was "on hold" during the presidential campaign.

The Guardian

That included Mauricio, who received a second letter, this one telling him the program was on hold.

Los Angeles Times

"It was on hold.

The New Yorker

Everything was on hold".

The New York Times

He was on hold.

The New York Times - Food

"Everything was on hold," he said.

The New York Times

My life was on hold.

The New Yorker

"and suddenly I was on hold.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I'm on hold".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was on hold" to clearly communicate that an action, project, or decision has been temporarily suspended and will be revisited or continued at a later time. This avoids ambiguity and sets clear expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "is on hold" when referring to a past event that has already been resolved. Use "was on hold" to accurately reflect the timeline of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was on hold" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state of a noun or subject as being temporarily suspended or paused. As shown by Ludwig, it indicates that something is not currently active or progressing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was on hold" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something was temporarily suspended or paused in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using "was on hold", ensure the tense aligns with the timeline of events. Remember to communicate a state of temporary suspension effectively, clarifying expectations about the future resumption of activity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was suspended

Indicates a temporary cessation, often implying a more formal or official action.

was postponed

Specifically refers to delaying an event or action to a later time.

was delayed

Similar to postponed, but often implies an unexpected or unintentional delay.

was deferred

Suggests a formal postponement, often with the intent of revisiting the matter later.

was put off

A more informal way of saying something was postponed or delayed.

was shelved

Implies that a project or plan has been put aside, possibly indefinitely.

was in abeyance

A more formal term indicating a temporary state of suspension or inactivity.

was interrupted

Indicates a sudden and unexpected halt to an activity or process.

was ceased

Suggests a more permanent end, though it can also refer to a temporary halt.

was stopped

A general term for ceasing an action or process, which could be temporary or permanent.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "was on hold"?

When something "was on hold", it means it was temporarily stopped or suspended, with the expectation that it will resume or be addressed at a later time. It indicates a pause rather than a permanent cancellation.

How can I use "was on hold" in a sentence?

You can use "was on hold" to describe situations where progress or action has been temporarily halted. For example, "The project "was suspended" due to unforeseen circumstances, so the next phase was on hold."

What's a formal alternative to "was on hold"?

A more formal alternative to "was on hold" is "was suspended" or "was deferred". These terms are suitable for official or professional contexts.

Is it correct to say "is on hold" instead of "was on hold"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Is on hold" refers to something currently paused, while "was on hold" refers to something that was paused in the past. For example, "The application is currently on hold pending review", versus "The application was on hold until the required documents were submitted."