hold back (someone or something)

idiom

1
: to stop (someone) from doing something
Once he starts talking, there's no holding him back.
2
: to not allow (something) to be seen or known by someone
He was unable to hold back his tears.
The government held back some crucial information from the media.
I know you're angry, so don't hold anything back (from me).
3
: to keep (something)
He held several thousand dollars back in case of an emergency.
4
: to delay (something)
The company held back the first shipment of the new product until it was completely ready.
5
: to stop (someone or something) from moving forward : to stop (someone or something) from advancing to the next level, grade, or stage
She might have been more successful, but bad health held her back.
He was held back in first grade.

Examples of hold back (someone or something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Gwyneth Paltrow sat down for an interview this week in which she was asked some very personal questions about her famous exes—and when answering, the Goop founder did not hold back. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 May 2023 One of the most potent responses to modern-day witch hunts is the struggle to hold back, and even reverse, the process of land dispossession and wealth concentration that began centuries ago during Europe's Great Hunt. Silvia Federici, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2023

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hold back (someone or something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20back%20%28someone%20or%20something%29. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!