hold off
verb
held off; holding off; holds off
1
: to block from an objective : delay
2
: to defer action on : postpone
hold off a decision
3
: to fight to a standoff : withstand
: to defer or temporarily stop doing something
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
Zelensky, however, accused Russia of breaking its commitment to hold off its attacks on Ukraine’s energy assets, claiming the weeklong pause was due to come into force last Friday.
—
Kamila Hrabchuk, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
But the Hornets held off a furious San Antonio comeback at the end.
—Scott Fowler The Charlotte Observer, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
Solanke showed strength, composure and control to hold off Abdukodir Khusanov, cut back inside, and score after a tangle with Marc Guehi.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
But the Hornets held off a furious San Antonio comeback at the end.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold off
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Kamila Hrabchuk, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
But the Hornets held off a furious San Antonio comeback at the end.
—Scott Fowler The Charlotte Observer, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
Solanke showed strength, composure and control to hold off Abdukodir Khusanov, cut back inside, and score after a tangle with Marc Guehi.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
But the Hornets held off a furious San Antonio comeback at the end.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold off
Cite this Entry
“Hold off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20off. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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