hold off
verb
held off; holding off; holds off
1
: to block from an objective : delay
2
: to defer action on : postpone
hold off a decision
3
: to fight to a standoff : withstand
: to defer or temporarily stop doing something
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
Economists and researchers agreed that a healthy economy encourages families to have more children to reproduce, while a contracting economy can lead some families to hold off on children.
—
Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the latest inflation data, while far from an all-clear on pricing pressures throughout the economy, did not suggest the Fed will hold off on at least a 25 basis point rate cut next week.
—Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
The demons are held off; the planet is saved.
—Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Major hospitality companies Hilton, Hyatt and Wyndham also cut their full-year outlooks, citing the challenging macro environment and softening consumer demand amid concerns that travelers are holding off on trips.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold off
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Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, the latest inflation data, while far from an all-clear on pricing pressures throughout the economy, did not suggest the Fed will hold off on at least a 25 basis point rate cut next week.
—Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
The demons are held off; the planet is saved.
—Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Major hospitality companies Hilton, Hyatt and Wyndham also cut their full-year outlooks, citing the challenging macro environment and softening consumer demand amid concerns that travelers are holding off on trips.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold off
Cite this Entry
“Hold off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20off. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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