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
  • Thanks to to novel coronavirus global pandemic, Hugh Jackman’s The Music Man is postponed to spring 2021.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Gallant was scheduled to meet with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in Washington in early October — a trip Gallant initiated — but it was postponed at Netanyahu’s request.
    Max Burman, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Definition of postpone
Verb
  • In a 2023 lawsuit, 20 patients alleged doctors delayed or denied medically-necessary care out of confusion and fear of the penalties for violating the law, which include loss of medical license, fines of $100,000 or more and sentences of up to life in prison.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The award had been delayed because none of the nominees under consideration in 1921 was found to have met the criteria. 1923: Alice Coachman, the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal, was born in Albany, Georgia.
    Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of delay
Verb
  • Sometimes settlement of patent disputes involves agreements between originator biologic and biosimilar manufacturers to defer market entry.
    Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • This concept gained prominence in 1980s Japan, when, during a period of economic upheaval, the government allowed companies to defer debt payments.
    Robert Gorin, WWD, 30 Oct. 2024
Definition of defer
Verb
  • The federal government put over $800 billion to help state governments navigate the pandemic.
    Carlos Waters, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Chop up candy or candy bars with a knife or scissors and put over ice cream or frozen yogurt.
    Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 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 2 Dec. 2024.

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