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

Washington — The Federal Reserve has spent years holding off on higher interest rates, wary of doing unnecessary damage to the US economy. — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

The Philadelphia Eagles stopped a potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt in the final two minutes to hold off the Washington Commanders. — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Palm Beach Central sophomore quarterback Isaiah Hamilton had two touchdown passes to junior wide receiver Logan Lindsey Hartwig, senior Kai Sainmervil recorded two interceptions, and the Broncos held off host Wellington 21-14 on Thursday night. — Jim Rassol, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

What’s happening is these events are now on the calendar, and shoppers hold off until one lands instead of paying full price the rest of the year. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 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