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

In Nebraska, incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer had a tougher-than-expected race against independent Dan Osborn but held off her challenger. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024

Ukrainian drones and artillery have held off the Russians, so far. —David Axe, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024

Advertisement This was the same player who played with a broken finger in the final month of the regular season as the Dodgers held off the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks to win the NL West. —Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024

The first question would have added $410 per student to the operating levy in order to hold off classroom staffing cuts, and offer K-8 world language classes, among other items. —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