hold off
verb
held off; holding off; holds off
1
: to block from an objective : delay
2
: to defer action on : postpone
hold off a decision
3
: to fight to a standoff : withstand
: to defer or temporarily stop doing something
Examples of hold off in a Sentence
we held off on accepting the invitation in the hopes that something better would come along
Recent Examples on the Web
The Chapel Hill, N.C. native and Duke grad held off Green and Boyd, both Epson Tour rookies, to take the title in Milford on Sunday.
—
Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that the EU would hold off on implementing retaliatory tariffs for now.
—Jj Kinahan, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Commissioners decided to wait until government staff produce additional information, including final spending data from the previous budget year, before proceeding.
Mayor Tyrone Garner, who leaned in favor of holding off on the decision for now, split the tie vote among commissioners.
—Sofi Zeman
july 11, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025
Here's a look at what the country says Americans are cutting back on or holding off buying due to tariffs under President Donald Trump, according to the NPR/PBS News/Marist poll (July 7, 2025).
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold off
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Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that the EU would hold off on implementing retaliatory tariffs for now.
—Jj Kinahan, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Commissioners decided to wait until government staff produce additional information, including final spending data from the previous budget year, before proceeding.
Mayor Tyrone Garner, who leaned in favor of holding off on the decision for now, split the tie vote among commissioners.
—Sofi Zeman
july 11, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025
Here's a look at what the country says Americans are cutting back on or holding off buying due to tariffs under President Donald Trump, according to the NPR/PBS News/Marist poll (July 7, 2025).
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold off
Cite this Entry
“Hold off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20off. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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