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
Noonan was benched, too, with captain Mark Messier also being held off for a brief spell.
—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Ada County Coroner Chief Deputy Ada County Coroner Brett Harding held off political newcomer Tim Flaherty.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 20 May 2026
Mayor Pro Tem Eddie Dingler said the consensus among board members was to hold off on further action against Carney until after the budget vote in June.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2026
Travis Bazzana hit a two-run homer, Cade Smith pitched out of a jam in the ninth inning, and the Cleveland Guardians held off the Detroit Tigers 4-3 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold off
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Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Ada County Coroner Chief Deputy Ada County Coroner Brett Harding held off political newcomer Tim Flaherty.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 20 May 2026
Mayor Pro Tem Eddie Dingler said the consensus among board members was to hold off on further action against Carney until after the budget vote in June.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2026
Travis Bazzana hit a two-run homer, Cade Smith pitched out of a jam in the ninth inning, and the Cleveland Guardians held off the Detroit Tigers 4-3 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory.
—ABC News, 19 May 2026
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 22 May. 2026.
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