hold off

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hold off The Brew Crew have won only seven while losing 10 since the streak ended, and their rapid bullpen attrition will only make their ability to hold off the Cubs over the final month of the season more difficult. Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 Rahman was accused of posting documents about Israel's strike last year on Telegram, leading the country's military to hold off on its initial plans. Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025 The states are not discussing a stopgap agreement that could hold off federal decisionmaking, Buschatzke said. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025 The back of the rotation could be the deciding factor in whether Boston can overtake the Blue Jays in the division or hold off the Yankees — and other AL contenders — for the top wild-card spot. Jim Bowden, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hold off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold off
Verb
  • Cook, who remains at the Federal Reserve, has sued the president to resist her dismissal.
    Chris Prentice, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Other times, long rates resist or even rise, flattening the curve and blunting the Fed’s impact.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • When bourbon slumped in the 1980s, many distilleries put off repairs to their stills, which caused plenty of problems.
    Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Speedrunners have also found some arcane sequence skips to get around certain bosses or methods for putting off some boss fights until later than the developers intended.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Later in the season, as more northern waters cool off and the main hurricane development region stays toasty, the instability dial could be turned back up.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Clayton Kershaw has turned back the clock.
    The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The idea of farm to table, back to farm, back to table, is really, really, really cool.
    Chelsea Davis, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Democrats now have the option of using the vote to table Schumer’s amendment as political ammo in the midterm election to attack Republicans over Epstein, a subject that has riveted some members of the GOP base for months.
    Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • An injured athlete also needs instruction on flexibility and strengthening exercises for the ankle and foot to increase their ability to withstand the stresses from their athletic activities.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Their roots intertwine with those of other redwoods, and that gives them tremendous strength to withstand high winds and floods.
    Greg Sullivan, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Current data suggests the asteroid features a bright surface made of solid rock, possibly broken off of a distant planet or another asteroid.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 18 Sep. 2025
  • After ramming it a few times, a piece of the rudder broke off, and that was even more fun because there was something to play with.
    Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • According to a study from 2017, a third of the nation’s flagships—all highly ranked and thus popular with out-of-staters—turned away some of their own state’s residents to make room for higher-paying students from elsewhere.
    Jeffrey Selingo, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Don't run and don't turn away from the bear.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Wisconsin joins 14 other states, including Minnesota and Illinois, in creating a vaccine protocol that does not defer solely to federal health officials.
    Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Buffett’s buy-and-hold approach not only compounds wealth but also defers taxes, allowing more capital to keep working year after year.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hold off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20off. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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