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

Harrison Bader connected against Walker Buehler for San Francisco's first home run this season and the Giants held off a late rally by the San Diego Padres to give rookie manager Tony Vitello his first victory, 3-2 on Monday night. —ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026

Last season’s 4-8 team wore down during the second half during losses at LSU, Miami and Texas A&M, was overrun at home by Tennessee and couldn’t hold off USF during a defeat that effectively sealed former head coach Billy Napier’s fate. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026

Biss emerged as the nominee, holding off Abughazaleh, who finished second, by fewer than 5,000 votes. —David Daley, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026

China often holds off from confirming official meetings until closer to the date. —Arkansas Online, 31 Mar. 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