as in postponing
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 holding off (on)
Verb
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Americans are also making other sacrifices, such as delaying a job change, putting off buying a new home or postponing growing their family.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026 -
Economists warn that conflict in the Middle East risks pushing up inflation and postponing interest-rate cuts if higher energy prices rises become sustained.—
Irina Anghel,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The temporary grace period delaying enforcement of the new law also applies to provisions restricting who can use which restrooms and other private spaces on government property.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
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The judge had postponed her sentencing until after the trial, delaying it further until after Serafini was sentenced.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And moviegoers turned out to indies from Rosemead to The Chronology of Water, All That’s Left Of You and more, new and holding over, limited, wide and top ten.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
11 Jan. 2026
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MicroStrategy remains the leader among corporate crypto treasuries, holding over 638,000 bitcoins valued at an astonishing $71 billion.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Americans are also making other sacrifices, such as delaying a job change, putting off buying a new home or postponing growing their family.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
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But the Council walked that back, putting off any vote until 2026 because of to a City Charter restriction prohibiting the body from pushing through raises in the lame duck period of an election year.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And in the long term, deferring maintenance and upgrades only make inevitable rate hikes even worse.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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Burroughs said implementing an administrative stay and deferring ruling on the postponement gives both sides time to file briefs on the emergency motion.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Holding off (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20off%20%28on%29. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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