HOLDING OFF (ON) Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

holding off (on)

verb

present participle of hold off (on)

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding off (on)

Verb

Sports comes to a standstill after terrorism in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, with major league baseball postponing a full schedule of regular-season games for the first time since D-Day in 1944.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
If waiting several weeks means losing a customer, delaying a project or postponing growth, the lowest interest rate may not produce the lowest overall cost.

— Michael Shribman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of postponing

Verb

In addition to suspending operations on the four existing cameras, the village is delaying installation of the other eight until concerns are addressed.

— Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026
While researchers have made tremendous headway in diagnosing the disease early and delaying symptom onset, a cure remains elusive, and a detailed understanding of the mechanisms behind the disease still has too many gaps.

— Mike McRae September 10, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

There are more than 300 such foundations across the country, holding over $40 billion in assets, according to Grantmakers In Health (paywall).

— Laura MacDonald, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Landa worked with the Association to get the original project approved in 2017 after holding over 30 public meetings.

— Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

Definition of holding over

Verb

Stop putting off that next step for your side hustle and find the perfect person to take your business to the next level.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026
Poppe said the company was putting off $2 billion in work — not for wildfire mitigation or safety, but for housing developments, renewable energy projects and other efforts.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of putting off

Verb

For players in high tax states like California or New York, deferring that money to after their playing days are over can save them millions in taxes.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has not publicly commented on their investigation for weeks, deferring questions to the district attorney — who acknowledged the public’s frustration.

— Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of deferring

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holding off

holding off (on)

holding on

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“Holding off (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20off%20%28on%29. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of holding off (on)

verb

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