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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold off (on)
Verb
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At a Friday court hearing for the family’s asylum case, a judge granted a continuance, which postpones the case to a later date, family attorney Danielle Molliver told CNN.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026 -
The album was scheduled for a May 21, 2025 release, but Del Rey ultimately postponed it, changed the title to Stove, and went back into the studio.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Consequently, the plane's takeoff was delayed for three hours after the investigation began.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
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The funding freeze had threatened to eliminate about 1,000 jobs immediately and delay replacement of a 110-year-old tunnel vital to Northeast rail transportation.—
Anthony Izaguirre,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The selection of an acting clerk and a resolution to update the city’s bank signatories were deferred until an acting mayor is selected.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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The Patriots won the coin toss and elected to defer.—
Doug Kyed,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When the rudder is put over, the stern swings out first, so that if the vessel is in restricted waters, trying to avoid something ahead can result in hitting something behind.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
5 Jan. 2026
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The nonprofit that has been helping them is trying to find a roof to put over their heads.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
17 Dec. 2025
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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 11 Feb. 2026.
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