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 WebHari Kumar, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Thirty percent were deemed EV holdouts who intended to never buy one.
—Steve Mollman, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024
Once Su’s nomination is out of committee, her supporters could restart efforts to convince Democratic holdouts to bring her confirmation to the Senate floor for a full vote.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
The one holdout was Latina and seemed to be about thirty, Dunn recalled.
—Jennifer Gonnerman, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024
McConnell remains the sole holdout among top leadership.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2024
But following a decision by leaders in Turkey earlier this year to approve Sweden’s accession to the alliance, leaving Hungary as the only holdout, Orban took steps to allow the process to move forward.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024
Germany – Europe’s largest economy, and a notable holdout from toeing the Washington line on a blanket ban on Huawei and ZTE equipment – has been noncommittal.
—Eva Dou, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024
Like other holdouts, Georgia Republicans long resisted participating.
—Jeff Amy, Fortune Well, 4 Jan. 2024
Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Rozier played through a neck injury, but he was held out of the fourth quarter.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
The couple's other daughter, Lyla, 3, stood next to her dad, who held out his hand to one of the animals to feed them.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Festival director Heather Haynes will lead the programming team ahead of Hot Docs’ upcoming April 25 to May 5 edition and echoed Nelson in holding out an olive branch to departing programmers.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2024
The Biden administration insists Israel has already accepted the broad terms of a six-week pause while Hamas is holding out.
—Alex Marquardt, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024
But fans are still holding out for her ninth studio album.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024
The family is holding out hope that Mustafa will be released as part of a Gaza cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, in which Israeli hostages would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
—Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
Some are holding out hope for the best in an uncertain time.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
But one critical group of holdouts remains: some of India’s richest states, the engine of its rapid growth.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Thirty percent were deemed EV holdouts who intended to never buy one.
—Steve Mollman, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024
Once Su’s nomination is out of committee, her supporters could restart efforts to convince Democratic holdouts to bring her confirmation to the Senate floor for a full vote.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
The one holdout was Latina and seemed to be about thirty, Dunn recalled.
—Jennifer Gonnerman, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024
McConnell remains the sole holdout among top leadership.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2024
But following a decision by leaders in Turkey earlier this year to approve Sweden’s accession to the alliance, leaving Hungary as the only holdout, Orban took steps to allow the process to move forward.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024
Germany – Europe’s largest economy, and a notable holdout from toeing the Washington line on a blanket ban on Huawei and ZTE equipment – has been noncommittal.
—Eva Dou, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024
Like other holdouts, Georgia Republicans long resisted participating.
—Jeff Amy, Fortune Well, 4 Jan. 2024
Verb
However, Hamas has been holding out for a permanent cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
—Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Rozier played through a neck injury, but he was held out of the fourth quarter.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
The couple's other daughter, Lyla, 3, stood next to her dad, who held out his hand to one of the animals to feed them.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Festival director Heather Haynes will lead the programming team ahead of Hot Docs’ upcoming April 25 to May 5 edition and echoed Nelson in holding out an olive branch to departing programmers.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Mar. 2024
The Biden administration insists Israel has already accepted the broad terms of a six-week pause while Hamas is holding out.
—Alex Marquardt, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024
But fans are still holding out for her ninth studio album.
—Heran Mamo, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024
The family is holding out hope that Mustafa will be released as part of a Gaza cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, in which Israeli hostages would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
—Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
Some are holding out hope for the best in an uncertain time.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holdout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Holdout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdout. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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