hold off

verb

|Updated on: 21 Aug 2018

Definition of hold 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

See hold off defined for kids

Recent Examples of hold off from the Web

The new study shows that today’s preschoolers are better at what psychologists call self-regulation, which is the conscious control of one’s immediate desires—the ability to hold off and wait until the time is right.

— susan pinker, WSJ, "Kids Today Are Actually More Patient Than Kids 50 Years Ago," 11 July 2018
After a grueling duel with Good Magic on the backstretch of the Preakness, Justify had enough speed to hold off several late challengers at the wire.

— jason frakes, The Courier-Journal, "5 things we'll remember about Triple Crown winner Justify," 15 June 2018
After decades of defying international pressure to hold off on additional weapons development, North Korea has yet to test-launch a missile in 2018.

— w.j. hennigan, Time, "President Trump Wants North Korea to Give Up Nuclear Weapons. Here's Just How Hard That Would Be," 11 June 2018
The notorious rain held off until headliners Travis Scott and The Gaslight Anthem took to their respective stages, but even as the skies opened up, New York City simply took that as an invitation to dance harder.

— billboard staff, Billboard, "Governors Ball NYC 2018: Travis Scott Literally Brings the Thunder, Pusha T Debuts 'Daytona' Live on Day Two," 3 June 2018
Concern about harming negotiations over North Korea's nuclear program, in which China plays a pivotal role as the isolated nation's closest ally, has also factored in Trump's decision to hold off on tariffs.

— jenny leonard and saleha mohsin, chicagotribune.com, "Trump backs away from China deal under pressure by trade hawks," 23 May 2018
Clinton used meetings with the British Prime Minister, instability in Iraq and a foreign travel schedule to hold off the grand jury interview for six months until prosecutors subpoenaed the President.

— dana bash, CNN, "Giuliani says Trump's new legal team has not held lengthy prep for Mueller interview," 10 May 2018
Greenwich won the team title with a score of 487.5, holding off Fairfield Prep (457).

— staff report, courant.com, "South Windsor's Branscombe Goes Out As State Open Champ," 17 Mar. 2018
At the request of the council during budget hearings in the fall, Don Wellsand, the county's IT director, held off on requesting the funds until an audit of the county's IT system was complete.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Porter County eyes $900K information technology upgrade," 1 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hold off.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.