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

The two show postponements come on the heels of Katseye postponing their show in Detroit earlier this week, mere hours before they were set to take the stage at Little Caesars Arena.

— Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
Instead of kicking back, most workers are postponing their move-out plans thanks to an affordability crisis pinching the wallets of everyday Americans.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of postponing

Verb

Policy experts warn that Democrats may have to settle for incremental changes, such as delaying the introduction of work requirements or expanding the list of exemptions.

— Josephine Murphy, NBC news, 13 Nov. 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected accusations that Israel has been delaying the entry of winter supplies into the Gaza Strip as severe rains flood makeshift tents, worsening conditions in the enclave this week.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

The country's telecom and internet service market is dominated by Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani's Jio and Sunil Mittal's Airtel, with both companies together holding over 80% market share.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of holding over

Verb

All of this means Owens has had to take shifts in the kitchen, putting off her front-of-house duties and paperwork to her evenings and days off.

— Ayesha Rascoe, NPR, 1 Nov. 2026
According to Singhal, common signs include procrastination, impatience, feeling overwhelmed, and putting off decisions altogether.

— Kriti Kumar, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of putting off

Verb

Project delays risk deferring revenue while costs accumulate, potentially triggering liquidity distress.

— , CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Millvale officials said the borough previously kept tax rates low in part by deferring necessary maintenance on buildings, ending its paving program and relying on emergency savings and other funds.

— Jessica Riley, CBS News, 22 Oct. 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 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of holding off (on)

verb

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