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
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2025
The holdouts included more than two hundred employees from Upstate Correctional Facility.
—Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Murray continues to nurse a foot injury suffered in the team's Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans, which has resulted in him being held out of practice for most of the week.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdout
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Noun
Notably, neither Chris Jones (contract holdout) nor Travis Kelce (hyperextended knee) was able to play that day.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2025
The holdouts included more than two hundred employees from Upstate Correctional Facility.
—Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
Coach Witten said Cooper has been battling through some leg and ankle injuries and thus was held out of the offense in this game.
—Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2025
Murray continues to nurse a foot injury suffered in the team's Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans, which has resulted in him being held out of practice for most of the week.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 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 15 Oct. 2025.
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