hold·back
ˈhōl(d)-ˌbak 
1
: something that retains or restrains
2
a
: the act of holding back
b
: something held back
held back; holding back; holds back
1
a
: to hinder the progress or achievement of : restrain
b
: to keep from advancing to the next stage, grade, or level
2
: to refrain from revealing or parting with
held back important information
1
: to keep oneself in check
2
: to refrain from revealing or parting with something
Synonyms
Examples of holdback in a Sentence
Noun
there'll be a holdback on production until the new machinery is fully installed
the only holdback to starting the new job is my contractual commitment to my current position
Verb
the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation
held back her tears until she was alone
Recent Examples on the Web
Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
The best rooms look as though they've been decorated over time, like this one featuring a collection of distressed wood dressers, a metal bed frame, and antique drapery holdbacks.
—Andrea Crowley, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
That's because the manufacturer will typically designate a holdback price, or a percentage of the MSRP or invoice.
—Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
France Télévisions also has first-window exclusivity for the French-language version, with a one-year holdback.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
The manufacturer pays the holdback price to the dealership once the dealer sells the vehicle.
—Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
There is a six-month holdback for the launch of the English-language versions in France.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
The reason Cannes doesn’t show Netflix films is simply because of the film law in France, which defines a very long holdback period after a film can move from theatrical release to streaming.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 Oct. 2022
The Prime Video Original will launch worldwide on the streaming platform and will be available to linear TV and other outlets after a holdback, said Lozano.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Nov. 2022
Graeme Green, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Martin holds back tears remembering his costar’s delivery of the speech.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
OpenAI has held back on publicly releasing the technology due to safety concerns ahead of the election.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Rebel Wilson doesn’t hold back in her upcoming memoir, Rebel Rising.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2024
The reception was held back at Chateau de Rougemont.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024
Investigators probing the Boeing 737 Max blowout say their investigation is being held back by Boeing’s lack of a paper trail for key work.
—Gregory Wallace, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
Despite the new options, activists and election researchers have identified practices that may hold back voters.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
That was meant to counter a spell of deflationary trends where people held back on purchases in hopes of lower prices, which led companies to invest less and to cut back on wages.
—Yuri Kageyama, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024
Noun
The other half of the moneys would be released to the clients' captives within 180 days, less some holdback that would last until the reinsurance policy expired (usually at the end of the year), plus some additional days tacked on for the extended reporting period.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
The best rooms look as though they've been decorated over time, like this one featuring a collection of distressed wood dressers, a metal bed frame, and antique drapery holdbacks.
—Andrea Crowley, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
That's because the manufacturer will typically designate a holdback price, or a percentage of the MSRP or invoice.
—Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
France Télévisions also has first-window exclusivity for the French-language version, with a one-year holdback.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
The manufacturer pays the holdback price to the dealership once the dealer sells the vehicle.
—Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
There is a six-month holdback for the launch of the English-language versions in France.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
The reason Cannes doesn’t show Netflix films is simply because of the film law in France, which defines a very long holdback period after a film can move from theatrical release to streaming.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 Oct. 2022
The Prime Video Original will launch worldwide on the streaming platform and will be available to linear TV and other outlets after a holdback, said Lozano.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Nov. 2022
Verb
Traffic wardens hold back cars and motorbikes as the intelligent animals wait, then scamper across busy roads.
—Graeme Green, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
Martin holds back tears remembering his costar’s delivery of the speech.
—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
OpenAI has held back on publicly releasing the technology due to safety concerns ahead of the election.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Rebel Wilson doesn’t hold back in her upcoming memoir, Rebel Rising.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2024
The reception was held back at Chateau de Rougemont.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024
Investigators probing the Boeing 737 Max blowout say their investigation is being held back by Boeing’s lack of a paper trail for key work.
—Gregory Wallace, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
Despite the new options, activists and election researchers have identified practices that may hold back voters.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
That was meant to counter a spell of deflationary trends where people held back on purchases in hopes of lower prices, which led companies to invest less and to cut back on wages.
—Yuri Kageyama, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holdback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near holdback
Cite this Entry
“Holdback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdback. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
hold back
verb1
: to make difficult the progress or achievement of
2
: to keep from revealing or giving
held back important information
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