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
Anthony Edwards scored 39 points, including an unlikely 3-pointer that sealed the game, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the Boston Celtics 119-115 on Saturday.
—
CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
Boise State’s tight win on the road over a team that was unbeaten at home will provide a boost, but whether that’s enough to hold off New Mexico, or even jump over San Diego State, remains to be seen.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Nov. 2025
Snow is forecast to fall during the college football game between Ohio State and Michigan in Ann Arbor Saturday afternoon, the weather service said, though the heaviest snow will likely hold off until after the game.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
While the business of counting the house proceeds, the networks have elected to hold off on issuing any preliminary ratings data, ensuring a sort of unofficial radio silence that’ll continue through the middle of next week.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold off
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.
CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025
Boise State’s tight win on the road over a team that was unbeaten at home will provide a boost, but whether that’s enough to hold off New Mexico, or even jump over San Diego State, remains to be seen.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Nov. 2025
Snow is forecast to fall during the college football game between Ohio State and Michigan in Ann Arbor Saturday afternoon, the weather service said, though the heaviest snow will likely hold off until after the game.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 28 Nov. 2025
While the business of counting the house proceeds, the networks have elected to hold off on issuing any preliminary ratings data, ensuring a sort of unofficial radio silence that’ll continue through the middle of next week.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 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 2 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share