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

• 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

Gimme a Nother took the lead at the top of the stretch under Hernandez and held off Medoro, who ran right behind the winner the entire 1 1/8 miles. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025

San Clemente held off Chaparral late for a 35-34 win Friday at San Clemente High. —Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 6 Sep. 2025

The first win of the 2025 NFL season goes to the Philadelphia Eagles, who held off the Dallas Cowboys, 24-20, to notch a victory to start the season. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025

However, unlike most others, Brussels is holding off until several conditions are met, including the ousting of Hamas from power and the release of the remaining hostages. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2025

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