withhold

with·hold

verb \with-ˈhōld, with-\

with·held\-ˈheld\with·hold·ing

Definition of WITHHOLD

transitive verb

1

: to hold back from action : check

2

archaic : to keep in custody

3

: to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing <withhold permission>

4

: to deduct (withholding tax) from income

intransitive verb

: forbear, refrain <withhold from commenting>

— with·hold·er noun

Examples of WITHHOLD

1. She was accused of withholding evidence.
2. She has $20 withheld from her paycheck every week.

Origin of WITHHOLD

Middle English, from with from + holden to hold — more at with

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to WITHHOLD

Synonyms

decline, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reject, reprobate, deny

Antonyms

allow, concede, grant, let, OK (or okay), permit

Related Words

ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto; rebuff, repel, spurn; check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict; balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct

Near Antonyms

afford, furnish, give, provide, supply; authorize, commission, license (also licence); accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant; accord, sanction, vouchsafe

See Synonym Discussion at keep

Rhymes with WITHHOLD

acold, age-old, ahold, all told, behold, bifold, billfold, black gold, blindfold, blue mold, bread mold, choke hold, controlled, Cotswold, cuckold, eightfold, enfold, fanfold, fivefold, fool's gold, foothold, fourfold, freehold, gatefold, go gold, green mold, handhold, head cold, household, ice-cold, infold, knock cold, leaf mold, leasehold, make bold, ninefold, old gold, onefold, on hold, pinfold, potholed, roothold, scaffold, sheepfold, sixfold, slime mold, stokehold, stone-cold, stronghold, take hold, tenfold, threefold, threshold, toehold, twice-told, twofold, unfold, unmold, untold, uphold, white gold, whole-souled