hold off (on)

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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold off (on)
Verb
  • Clean up habitat down by the L.A. River Volunteers are needed from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve for Friends of the L.A. River’s habitat restoration day and Earth Month celebration, postponed because of rain last month.
    Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
  • Hartford Courant Central opener postponed: Thursday’s games in the NEC tournament in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. were postponed due to rain.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • At least three lawsuits have been filed against the company for delaying the features and circulating misleading iPhone 16 ads regarding Apple Intelligence.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 26 May 2025
  • Kristi Durbin, immunization and travel division manager at El Paso County Public Health, said parents delayed routine health care during the pandemic.
    Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • The agreement appears to essentially lock in the exemptions in perpetuity, requiring any future Ukrainian legislation to defer and yield to this international treaty.
    Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • The city can achieve their highest statutory purpose, boost local jobs and the local economy, and address critical environmental needs — needs that will become more expensive if deferred.
    Jim Peugh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Gunther put over Pat McAfee as a non-wrestling performer with heart, and said Paul was the opposite.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • While the crate had a blanket put over it, Chef's presence was enough to keep Chip calm throughout the night.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
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.

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“Hold off (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20off%20%28on%29. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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