hold off (on)

Definition of hold off (on)next
as in to postpone
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 hold off (on)
Verb
  • Al-Zaidi had set Wednesday as a deadline for militias to surrender their weapons, but has since postponed it to June 2027.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The Oura public offering itself, which Allie described this month as the year’s hottest imminent IPO, was suddenly postponed on Tuesday (more on that below), but that does nothing to undercut the significance of Robinhood’s role.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The fight, Haro said, is about more than extending a lease or delaying an eviction.
    — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Many airlines issue travel waivers during storms or weather advisories, allowing passengers to rebook their flights without any extra fees if it could be impacted or if it gets delayed or canceled.
    — Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • If the case is this well established, why do so many capable leaders read it, agree with it—and still defer the work of their own leadership development?
    — Bill Koch, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Some of your salary can be deferred and taxed when assets are withdrawn.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • After losing nearly a stroke and a half to the field on the greens in Round 1, Åberg has gained nearly three strokes putting over the last two days.
    — Justin Ray, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • The company’s Super+ membership is approaching one million members and has helped customers put over $1 billion back in their pockets.
    — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 7 July 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Hold off (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20off%20%28on%29. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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