hold·out
ˈhōld-ˌau̇t 
held out; holding out; holds out
1
: to remain unsubdued or unyielding
… where 30 of the … refugees were still holding out.—
Anna Tomforde
Anna Tomforde
also
: to continue to function or be available : last entry 1
prayed that the engine would hold out
as long as our money holds out
2
: to refuse to go along with others in a concerted action or to come to an agreement
holding out for a shorter workweek
Examples of holdout in a Sentence
Noun
He says he might be a holdout at the start of the next season if the team doesn't agree to pay him more.
He is expected to end his three-week holdout and join the team tomorrow.
A few holdouts still use typewriters, but nearly everybody uses computers now.
Verb
we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored
luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore
Recent Examples on the Web
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025
The shutdown was the result of a holdout from Democratic senators who could not agree to vote on the continuing resolution to fund the government, which was originally drafted under President Joe Biden’s term.
—Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 Nov. 2025
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
The average owner of an artificial tree gets a new one every five years, and higher prices could convince some to hold out for one more year.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdout
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Noun
The story is told through the eyes of a young boy, Dule (Rastko Racić), whose father, Vid (Dusan Jović), is one of the last remaining holdouts, refusing to sell his family home even if most of the other residents have vacated the area for greener pastures.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025
The shutdown was the result of a holdout from Democratic senators who could not agree to vote on the continuing resolution to fund the government, which was originally drafted under President Joe Biden’s term.
—Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 Nov. 2025
Verb
Signs now point to him not playing at all in 2025, and instead holding out for whatever team may sign him in the 2026 offseason.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025
The average owner of an artificial tree gets a new one every five years, and higher prices could convince some to hold out for one more year.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdout
Cite this Entry
“Holdout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdout. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
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