hold·out
ˈhōld-ˌau̇t 
held out; holding out; holds out
1
: to remain unsubdued or unyielding
where 30 of the … refugees were still holding out—
Anna Tomforde
Anna Tomforde
also
: to continue to function or be available : last entry 1
prayed that the engine would hold out
as long as our money holds out
2
: to refuse to go along with others in a concerted action or to come to an agreement
holding out for a shorter workweek
Examples of holdout in a Sentence
Noun
He says he might be a holdout at the start of the next season if the team doesn't agree to pay him more.
He is expected to end his three-week holdout and join the team tomorrow.
A few holdouts still use typewriters, but nearly everybody uses computers now.
Verb
we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored
luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore
Recent Examples on the Web
Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
If District 6 flips, Ed Driggs — whose District 7 also covers parts of south Charlotte — would become the sole Republican holdout in a city that’s shifted increasingly to the left.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Fans held out hope that Frehley and Peter Criss would pop up at the event and give the world the proper goodbye they were denied on the second farewell tour.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdout
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.
Noun
And in a surprise move, the lone holdout — the Berkeley Police Department — may soon join them.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
If District 6 flips, Ed Driggs — whose District 7 also covers parts of south Charlotte — would become the sole Republican holdout in a city that’s shifted increasingly to the left.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
Urban asked the concertgoer, holding out a microphone, as shown in a video shared by media agency Nashville XP.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Fans held out hope that Frehley and Peter Criss would pop up at the event and give the world the proper goodbye they were denied on the second farewell tour.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdout
Cite this Entry
“Holdout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdout. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share