withhold

verb

with·​hold with-ˈhōld 

wit͟h-

withheld with-ˈheld 

wit͟h-

; withholding

transitive verb

1

: to hold back from action : check

2

archaic : to keep in custody

3

: to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing

withhold permission

4

: to deduct (withholding tax) from income

intransitive verb

: forbear, refrain

withhold from commenting

withholder noun

Synonyms of withhold

• refuse
• deny
• reject
• decline

Choose the Right Synonym for withhold

keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control.

keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control.

keep this while I'm gone

retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

detain suggests a delay in letting go.

detained them for questioning

withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go.

withheld information from the authorities

reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use.

reserve some of your energy for the last mile

Examples of withhold in a Sentence

She was accused of withholding evidence.

She has $20 withheld from her paycheck every week.

Recent Examples on the Web

The district is at risk of losing nearly $70 million in federal funding if it is found teachers or administrators withheld information related to a student’s gender identity, NBC affiliate KSHB reports. — Daniella Silva, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026

Democrats withheld their votes first to pressure Republicans to extend expiring subsidies for health insurance premiums, prompting a 43-day shutdown that ended in November. — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026

The policy says district officials should consider the student’s age, grade level, welfare, and other relevant information when deciding whether to withhold the information from parents. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, under the pretext of preventing fraud, the federal government has repeatedly withheld funding to Minnesota, freezing, for example, nearly two hundred million dollars of Medicaid spending for the state in July. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from with from + holden to hold — more at with

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for withhold

• ahold
• behold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled

Kids Definition

withhold

verb

with·​hold with-ˈhōld 

wit͟h-

withheld -ˈheld  ; withholding

1

: to hold back : restrain

withhold an angry response

2

: to refuse to grant, give, or allow

withhold permission

3

: to deduct (withholding tax) from income

withholder noun