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

That may mean holding off on filling up a kid's swimming pool or watering your lawn during the day. — John Lauritsen, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

With so much unknown about availability and pricing in 2027, many have chosen to hold off on any Olympic purchases. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

His buck was now standing broadside, 30 yards away, Van Lith held off. — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026

And anyway, many users hold off installing the first release in a new cycle to allow it to bed in. — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 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