holdover

1 of 2

noun

hold·​over ˈhōld-ˌō-vər How to pronounce holdover (audio)
: one that is held over

hold over

2 of 2

verb

held over; holding over; holds over

intransitive verb

: to continue (as in office) for a prolonged period

transitive verb

1
b
: to retain in a condition or position from an earlier period
2
: to prolong the engagement of
the film was held over another week

Examples of holdover in a Sentence

Noun He is the only holdover from their last championship team. This policy is a holdover from the previous administration. Verb the golf tournament had to be held over until the line of thunderstorms had passed through
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The story is set in a sorority house around Christmas break, where the few holdovers who remain are stalked by a serial killer. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025 What this means: Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, a holdover from Matt Eberflus’ coaching staff, will retain two of his most trusted and valued contributors. Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
The process of picking the 25 or so players who will represent USA Hockey begins in earnest in late July when the World Junior Summer Showcase will be held over the course of a week at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 15 Apr. 2025 Organizers aimed at holding over 1,400 protests across all 50 states with nearly 600,000 people signed up to attend. Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for holdover

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1647, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of holdover was in 1647

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Holdover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdover. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

hold over

verb
: to continue beyond a normal or planned time
the movie was held over for three weeks
holdover
ˈhōl-ˌdō-vər
noun

Legal Definition

hold over

intransitive verb
: to remain in a position or condition
one who holds over in possession of a building after the expiration of a term of yearsB. N. Cardozo
holdover noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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