hold off (on)

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
  • It will either get postponed, or prepare for the entire group not to make it out of the groupchat.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 29 Apr. 2025
  • But if the alert lasts more than 30 minutes, the screening is postponed.
    Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • There's also great uncertainty as Trump seeks negotiations with China and begins talks with other counties whose larger tariffs were delayed by 90 days.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Do not use antihistamines for severe food allergies that require using an EpiPen, as this can delay necessary treatment and be life-threatening.
    Wendy Wisner, Health, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Companies like Resource Royalty LLC have made these investments more accessible, particularly for those utilizing 1031 exchanges to defer taxes and diversify their portfolios.
    Fred Hubler, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The price tag of Black motherhood isn’t just about dollars and cents, but about dreams deferred and choices no one should have to make.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Lynch could return to challenge or put over someone for the U.S. title.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Because his drug was a gene therapy, public grant money and private philanthropy played an especially central role, with the National Institutes of Health alone putting over $450 million into science related to SMA.
    Robin Fields, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
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 3 May. 2025.

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