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holding off

VERB

repress

Synonyms

WEAK

bit bridle check control curb defer delay deny forbear hold down hold in inhibit keep keep back keep out postpone prevent put off refrain refuse restrain stop suppress withhold

Antonyms

WEAK

let go reveal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Some say they’re holding off on buying big-ticket appliances, even as Memorial Day sales approach.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

The Thunder proved their depth and chemistry by holding off the Lakers in the fourth quarter.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026

Elsewhere, Rosamund Pike won best actress in a play for legal drama Inter Alia, holding off competition from fellow film stars Cate Blanchett and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

He suggested holding off a couple of days.

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2026

By holding off combat until the five-year agreement ran out, Octavian avoided the stigma of starting a civil war.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby