hold off (on)

verb

Definition of hold off (on)next
as in to postpone
to assign to a later time we held off on accepting the invitation in the hopes that something better would come along

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold off (on)
  1. postpone
  2. delay
  3. defer
  4. put over
Verb
  • The defence team has repeatedly sought to postpone proceedings since the trial began, nearly five years ago, citing Israel's precarious defence situation since the 7 October Hamas attacks.
    The Week UK, theweek, 11 Dec. 2024
  • And that is why, in order to get sustainable peace, Ukraine have to get security guarantees which not provide Russia opportunity just to postpone this goal, but to make Russia impossible to achieve this goal in future.
    ABC NEWS, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of postpone
Verb
  • National News Florida woman charged with threatening health insurance company with ‘delay, deny, depose’ A Florida woman has been charged with threatening her health insurance provider during a phone...
    The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 15 Dec. 2024
  • The looming multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall in Annapolis strongly suggests that some elements of the Blueprint may have to be delayed and, presumably, that includes spending more on teacher pay.
    Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 15 Dec. 2024
Definition of delay
Verb
  • Federal officials would not provide details about the patient’s symptoms, deferring all inquiries to Louisiana’s Department of Public Health. Emails and calls to that agency went unanswered.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
  • However, this calculus depends on where households get their cash in order to defer the Social Security claiming age.
    Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of defer
Verb
  • The matter has been put over to February, and prosecutors are expected to consider assault charges against Gao in connection with the police shooting incident well before then.
    Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024
  • The federal government put over $800 billion to help state governments navigate the pandemic.
    Carlos Waters, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2024
Definition of put over
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near hold off (on)

hold off

hold off (on)

hold on

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Cite this Entry

“Hold off (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20off%20%28on%29. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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