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

If the soil still appears quite moist, hold off on watering for a few more days and check again. —Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026

Ensure the mix has good airflow, give the orchid plenty of bright, indirect light, and hold off on fertilizing until the orchid recovers. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2026

The Clippers, led by their young players, regained their footing in the fourth and held off any further challenges by the Wizards (10-28) down the stretch. —Janis Carr, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026

The Wildcats powered through, building a 12-point lead and holding off a final Arizona State flurry. —Doug Haller, New York Times, 15 Jan. 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