Holding onto something is the act of KEEPING it in one's possession. It can refer to physical items, such as a possession or an object, or it can refer to intangible things, such as memories or emotions. The term 'holding onto' is often used to describe the act of not letting go of something, either physically or emotionally. The crossword solution for this term is 'KEEPING, ' which is an appropriate word to describe the act of holding onto something.