hold off

verb

held off; holding off; holds off

transitive verb

1

: to block from an objective : delay

2

: to defer action on : postpone

hold off a decision

3

: to fight to a standoff : withstand

intransitive verb

: to defer or temporarily stop doing something

Synonyms

• defer
• delay
• hold over
• hold up
• lay over
• postpone
• put off
• put over
• remit
• shelve

Examples of hold off in a Sentence

we held off on accepting the invitation in the hopes that something better would come along

Recent Examples on the Web

This is also not the best time to be making important purchases, so maybe hold off for now on booking that cruise or applying for that travel credit card. —Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024

The team that had long struggled to finish games scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to hold off the Raiders, sealed by an eight-play, 92-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Herbert to rookie Ladd McConkey. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024

By Thursday evening, AccuWeather predicts showers might hold off, calling for a 21% probability of precipitation. —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Oct. 2024

When the 2023 levy did not pass, the district chose to use $2.7 million of one-time funds to hold off any additional budget cuts. —Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

hold off

verb

1

: to keep away : withstand

held off the attack

2

: postpone, delay

decided to hold off on the decision

will hold off production for the summer