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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So Scherzer and Bassitt, held off the LDS roster, are back in play. Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 The Tigers managed to hold off a pesky Manual team’s second-half comeback Friday, emerging on top 28-17. Rich Barak, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Oct. 2025 If heavy rain is in the forecast, hold off on fertilizing until after the grass has had time to dry. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025 And the White House has for days threatened layoffs across the government, only to hold off. Brett Samuels, The Hill, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hold off

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hold off was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20off. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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