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 of hold off

• postpone
• delay
• defer
• put over

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

Both Ghana and England will walk away with a point after Ghana managed to hold off England in a heart-pounding final few minutes of stoppage time. —Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026

New research finally puts the question to a direct test, and the answer matters for anyone who has held off because of the rumor. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026

In the neighboring 6th District, McClain Delaney is trying to hold off Trone, the Total Wine co-founder who gave up the seat for a failed 2024 Senate bid. —Luke Fountain, CNBC, 23 June 2026

Investors in the bubbly stock market seem to be betting that Warsh and his colleagues will ultimately hold off a rate rise. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for hold off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

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