HOLD OFF ON Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

hold off (on)

verb

Definition of 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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold off (on)

Verb

In Egypt, a Cairo judge postponed the retrial of the editor-in-chief of one of the country's last independent news outlets for a week after her defense lawyers asked him to recuse himself, the outlet said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
Before the meeting, about four dozen people held a rally outside City Hall, calling on the council to postpone the vote and negotiate a deal requiring those items.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of postpone

Verb

The resort delayed its opening by a few days to allow for more snowmaking, and a few intermediate runs will be open beginning tomorrow.

— Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
Chicago Board of Elections spokesperson Julie Metea said final results are delayed because of a surge of 34,000 same-day voter registrations Tuesday.

— Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of delay

Verb

Our top picks In an effort to figure out which aprons best marry form and function, my colleagues and I put over a dozen options to the test in our own homes.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of put over

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.

Browse Nearby Words

hold off

hold off (on)

hold on

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hold off (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20off%20%28on%29. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hold off (on)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boilerplate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes