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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held off (on)
Verb
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After defense attorneys raised concerns about a prosecutor's comments to a local news outlet, the misdemeanor trial for CityBeat investigative news reporter Madeline Fening was postponed until early 2026.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025 -
On Friday, the Labor Department is expected release numbers on September hiring and unemployment — though the report could be postponed if a budget impasse in Congress leads to a government shutdown Wednesday.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Social Security benefits, for example, are considered mandatory by law and continue, although some services may be delayed if some workers are furloughed.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
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Democratic leaders countered that the subsidies are not a new demand but rather the continuation of a program that has helped keep record numbers of Americans insured since the pandemic – and therefore that the issue could not be delayed.—
Christopher Robertson,
The Conversation,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As part of a plea agreement, prosecution was deferred on an additional charge for menacing so long as White commits no new violations over the next two years and satisfies a number of conditions, including issuing a public apology to the victim, Adam Weatherford.—
Josh Wood,
Louisville Courier Journal,
1 Oct. 2025
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Joseph VonNida deferred questions about the state’s version of that unit to the Department of Homeland Security.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
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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 10 Oct. 2025.
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