hold·out
ˈhōld-ˌau̇t 
held out; holding out; holds out
1
: to remain unsubdued or unyielding
where 30 of the … refugees were still holding out—
Anna Tomforde
Anna Tomforde
also
: to continue to function or be available : last entry 1
prayed that the engine would hold out
as long as our money holds out
2
: to refuse to go along with others in a concerted action or to come to an agreement
holding out for a shorter workweek
Examples of holdout in a Sentence
Noun
He says he might be a holdout at the start of the next season if the team doesn't agree to pay him more.
He is expected to end his three-week holdout and join the team tomorrow.
A few holdouts still use typewriters, but nearly everybody uses computers now.
Verb
we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored
luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
The 911 will also likely be one of the last manual holdouts, since the gearbox is so tied to the model’s history and identity.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2025
Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
White had missed four straight practices with an illness and was held out of Sundays’ win over the Dolphins.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdout
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Noun
The other two, Troy Terry and Lukáš Dostál, both signed long deals (seven and five years, respectively) as RFAs without requiring a holdout, though both had the exigency of arbitration eligibility motivating a swifter resolution.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
The 911 will also likely be one of the last manual holdouts, since the gearbox is so tied to the model’s history and identity.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
Third baseman Max Muncy was held out of the starting lineup for the third time in four games after he was hit in the back of the helmet by a pitch Saturday at San Francisco.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025
White had missed four straight practices with an illness and was held out of Sundays’ win over the Dolphins.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdout
Cite this Entry
“Holdout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdout. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.
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