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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These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
5 Dec. 2025 -
Earlier in November, Clarkson announced new dates for her Studio Sessions residency in Las Vegas after postponing several shows due to Blackstock’s illness.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
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While many campuses were delaying scholarship decisions until the government resolved problems with a new financial aid form, Swarthmore used other data to figure out applicants’ financial need.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
11 Dec. 2025
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Moscow has repeatedly said that Zelensky was not the legitimate leader of Ukraine and as such could not negotiate any peace deal but this has been seen by critics as aimed at delaying an end to Putin’s aggression.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Capable of holding over 40,000 worshippers, the mosque puts the wealth of the Emirates on clear display.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
3 Aug. 2025
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Nvidia serves as both a key collaborator and investor, having participated in a $700 million funding round last year while holding over 1 million shares in the company.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
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While delaying care may seem like a practical way to manage vet costs in the short term, putting off treatment can sometimes create larger financial and medical challenges in the future.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
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That did mean putting off other major projects, including construction of the new, $24 million Barbour Street library in the city’s northside neighborhood.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The county’s cost-saving measures include eliminating vacant positions, cutting programs, deferring maintenance projects, increasing revenue and implementing layoffs.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
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Fox News Digital reached out to Oregon for a response, but the university declined to provide a statement, deferring the inquiry to SJSU.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 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 18 Jun. 2026.
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