How to Use hold back in a Sentence

hold back

verb

• This is the kind of movie that gives and gives but holds back, too.
  — Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024
• Carmichael didn’t hold back throughout the rest of the show either.
  — Selome Hailu, Variety, 10 Jan. 2023
• Watson mustn’t hold back or be afraid to rock the boat.
  — cleveland, 15 Jan. 2023
• The Ravens will not hold back as many players this time.
  — The Enquirer, 11 Jan. 2023
• The intent to hold back the tide may cost Democrats big time in the midterm elections.
  — Chicago Tribune, 21 Nov. 2024
• O’Rourke does not hold back in connecting the links on the chain.
  — Lee Drutman, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2022
• When Glaser asked if that was hard, Lopez didn’t hold back.
  — Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 9 Oct. 2024
• Now is not the moment to hold back but to be brave and real.
  — Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 2 Aug. 2024
• Of course, Donna knew her son wouldn't hold back in front of Swift.
  — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 29 Jan. 2024
• Her blond hair was glossy and straight, her bangs held back with a barrette.
  — Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2023
• The buck held back for a bit, until 10 more does emerged from a thicket and walked straight to the food pile.
  — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 12 Dec. 2024
• As the audience gushed, the youngster tried (and failed) to hold back tears.
  — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 June 2022
• Even more than the clothes, the outrage brought out the fire in a band not known for holding back onstage.
  — Spin Staff, SPIN, 21 Dec. 2023
• If there is anything that could hold back the Blazers it’s turnovers.
  — oregonlive, 9 Nov. 2022
• But the Israelis did not view the deal as firm enough to hold back the invasion.
  — Peter Baker, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023
• That's when the topic of Garner's first kiss came up—and the actor did not hold back.
  — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 6 Feb. 2022
• But her friends and family do not hold back in Breath of Fire.
  — Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 23 Oct. 2024
• The film, which features an all-Asian cast, does not hold back on the vulgar and obscene.
  — Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 7 July 2023
• And many didn't hold back in their criticism of the NFL franchise.
  — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2022
• Her mother looks on fighting to hold back tears of her own.
  — Alaa Elassar, CNN, 30 May 2022
• But again, the slow offensive start hasn’t held back the Thunder in the slightest.
  — Nick Crain, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
• Don’t hold back or lose the hopes and expectations for the future.
  — Catherine Galassovigorito, Hartford Courant, 10 Jan. 2024
• Two loops of these hair ties will hold back my hair—and not leave behind a telltale bend.
  — Talia Gutierrez, Allure, 26 June 2024
• Flamini loves blues music, and her favorite songs help hold back her fear of the dark.
  — D. T. Max, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2024
• Crux produced 1,600 bottles and will hold back enough to serve at its tasting rooms through the year.
  — oregonlive, 17 Mar. 2023
• As for the albums themselves, they were not held back by the lack of visuals.
  — Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2024
• Alcaraz nearly threw his racket to the ground but held back at the last moment.
  — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2023
• The biggest challenge, as a Gazan journalist, is to stay calm and try to hold back my tears.
  — Anna Gordon, TIME, 20 Oct. 2023
• He was seen rushing Schroeder at one point and needed to be held back.
  — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 24 Dec. 2024
• Kim Kardashian is not holding back on her fashion game this Christmas!
  — Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Last Updated: 18 Jan 2025