hold off

verb

held off; holding off; holds off

transitive verb

1

: to block from an objective : delay

2

: to defer action on : postpone

hold off a decision

3

: to fight to a standoff : withstand

intransitive verb

: to defer or temporarily stop doing something

Synonyms

• defer
• delay
• hold over
• hold up
• lay over
• postpone
• put off
• put over
• remit
• shelve

Examples of hold off in a Sentence

we held off on accepting the invitation in the hopes that something better would come along

Recent Examples on the Web

Set during the Battle of Thermopylae, the Spartans use their superior training and bold tactics to hold off the invading forces at a narrow mountain pass. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024

Fed chair defends decision to hold off on interest rate cuts 05:46 The positive scenario puts the Fed in the position of working to ensure that its policy moves do not slow the economy too much, the bank chief said. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2024

The former president long solicited Musk's support - and money - but the electric car magnate held off on a formal endorsement until July. —David Jackson, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024

The Richmond City Council, concerned that the policy could impact vendors with tight profits, asked city workers to hold off on fining vendors until staff developed a hardship program, vendor outreach plan, and a process for tracking data, infractions, complaints and locations of vendors. —Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

hold off

verb

1

: to keep away : withstand

held off the attack

2

: postpone, delay

decided to hold off on the decision

will hold off production for the summer