held over; holding over; holds over
: to continue (as in office) for a prolonged period
2
: to prolong the engagement of
the film was held over another week
Synonyms
Examples of holdover in a Sentence
Noun
He is the only holdover from their last championship team.
This policy is a holdover from the previous administration.
Verb
the golf tournament had to be held over until the line of thunderstorms had passed through
Recent Examples on the Web
Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 1 Sep. 2023
Whether that works will also be determined by trust since the coaches are relying on the holdovers from the championship roster to get the team’s six freshmen and two transfers up to speed.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
His release leaves only defensive tackle Leki Fotu as the lone holdover from Arizona’s 2020 draft class.
—Bob McManaman, The Arizona Republic, 29 Aug. 2023
The few holdover players from last year have noticed the differences more than the many newcomers.
—Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2023
One noteworthy addition is Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, who won the quarterback competition with holdover Robbie Ashford.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
The Buffaloes feature nearly 70 new scholarship players — and just 10 holdover scholarship players from last season — and his sons have been guaranteed starting jobs, including quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 23 Aug. 2023
Wu also re-appointed Priscilla Rojas, the current BPDA board chair whose term is in holdover status, to a term that would expire Aug. 7, 2028.
—Catherine Carlock, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2023
Jacob Zeno and Harrison Barker are the only holdovers from last year’s team.
—Evan Dudley, al, 30 Aug. 2023
Grant Smith, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023
This year marks the first time Genius Week will be held over multiple evenings.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023
The funds delivered each month will hold over into the next.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2023
The individuals who spoke to NBC News said some of the meetings were held over Microsoft Teams and that the entire panel did not attend every meeting.
—Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 28 July 2023
Iran’s membership also undermines leverage Washington held over Tehran as a kind of global gatekeeper, said Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.
—Lynsey Chutel, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2023
Ashley Whippet disc dog competition returns Sept. 2-3 The 2023 Ashley Whippet World Series Invitational, the longest-running disc dog competition, will be held over Labor Day weekend from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 2-3 at the Nike Sports Complex, 288 W. Diehl Road.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023
The home’s large chef’s kitchen includes a Thermador range, double ovens, wet bar and wine refrigerator that holds over 160 bottles.
—Allie Beth Allman & Associates, Dallas News, 13 Aug. 2023
The couple has held over 60 wellness events in one year and enjoys interacting personally with their community and customers.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2023
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Noun
View Exterior Photos Big chrome letters spell out Countryman across the rear liftgate, which is a holdover from the previous model, but the font size and spacing emphasize the new Countryman's width.
—Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 1 Sep. 2023
Whether that works will also be determined by trust since the coaches are relying on the holdovers from the championship roster to get the team’s six freshmen and two transfers up to speed.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
His release leaves only defensive tackle Leki Fotu as the lone holdover from Arizona’s 2020 draft class.
—Bob McManaman, The Arizona Republic, 29 Aug. 2023
The few holdover players from last year have noticed the differences more than the many newcomers.
—Brent Schrotenboer, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2023
One noteworthy addition is Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, who won the quarterback competition with holdover Robbie Ashford.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
The Buffaloes feature nearly 70 new scholarship players — and just 10 holdover scholarship players from last season — and his sons have been guaranteed starting jobs, including quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 23 Aug. 2023
Wu also re-appointed Priscilla Rojas, the current BPDA board chair whose term is in holdover status, to a term that would expire Aug. 7, 2028.
—Catherine Carlock, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2023
Jacob Zeno and Harrison Barker are the only holdovers from last year’s team.
—Evan Dudley, al, 30 Aug. 2023
Verb
While the supply tightening engineered by the Saudis reflects the sway the kingdom still holds over energy markets, the International Energy Agency on Tuesday served a reminder of how that grip could be weakened.
—Grant Smith, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023
This year marks the first time Genius Week will be held over multiple evenings.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2023
The funds delivered each month will hold over into the next.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2023
The individuals who spoke to NBC News said some of the meetings were held over Microsoft Teams and that the entire panel did not attend every meeting.
—Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 28 July 2023
Iran’s membership also undermines leverage Washington held over Tehran as a kind of global gatekeeper, said Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.
—Lynsey Chutel, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2023
Ashley Whippet disc dog competition returns Sept. 2-3 The 2023 Ashley Whippet World Series Invitational, the longest-running disc dog competition, will be held over Labor Day weekend from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 2-3 at the Nike Sports Complex, 288 W. Diehl Road.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2023
The home’s large chef’s kitchen includes a Thermador range, double ovens, wet bar and wine refrigerator that holds over 160 bottles.
—Allie Beth Allman & Associates, Dallas News, 13 Aug. 2023
The couple has held over 60 wellness events in one year and enjoys interacting personally with their community and customers.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holdover.' 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
1893, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1647, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near holdover
Cite this Entry
“Holdover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdover. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
hold over
verb
: to continue beyond a normal or planned time
the movie was held over for three weeks
holdover
noun
ˈhōl-ˌdō-vər
Legal Definition
hold over
intransitive verb
: to remain in a position or condition
one who holds over in possession of a building after the expiration of a term of years—B. N. Cardozo
B. N. Cardozo
holdover
noun
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