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

• defer
• delay
• hold over
• hold up
• lay over
• postpone
• put off
• put over
• remit
• shelve

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

Others, like former President Barack Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, praised Mr. Biden but held off on endorsing Harris. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 21 July 2024

With the Paris Olympics just days away, the mighty Americans needed a late basket from LeBron James to hold off South Sudan, 101-100, during an exhibition at London’s O2 arena. —Ben Golliver, Washington Post, 20 July 2024

Zelensky said this week that the current level of support was enough to hold off further Russian advances, but not win the war. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 20 July 2024

The Seattle Times Amazon’s Prime Day brought in record sales this year, as inflation eased and shoppers held off on orders in anticipation of the annual sale. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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