as in postponed
to assign to a later time
we held off on accepting the invitation in the hopes that something better would come along
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held off (on)
Verb
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After strong pushback from the downtown community, San Jose City Council Tuesday postponed a decision on a proposal for parking rate hikes and extended enforcement hours until after its summer recess in August.
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Their sister postponed her wedding for about one year after the accident.
Verb
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The theory here is that avarice and ambition can best be defeated by means of somebody else’s avarice and ambition; power’s inevitable corrupting effect is thereby mitigated or delayed.
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Automatic contributions, delayed payment windows, small rituals that add friction to impulse spending — these are all behavioral architecture moves, not acts of self-denial.
Verb
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That’s true even when proceeds are held in escrow (exceptions can apply if the escrow is tied to contingencies), or when payment is deferred.
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For consumers and logistics fleets who deferred major purchases out of fear that gas and diesel prices would remain permanently elevated, this stabilization acts as a powerful green light.
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“Held off (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20off%20%28on%29. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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