as in postpones
to assign to a later time
we held off on accepting the invitation in the hopes that something better would come along
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds off (on)
Verb
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The Defense secretary said the ceasefire postpones the deadline for securing such approval.—
Ben Finley,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026 -
This is equally true of society, and disregarding this truth only postpones the moment of reckoning.—
Alec Nevala-Lee,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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SpaceX delays flight test another 24 hours SpaceX is now working toward a Starship launch Thursday, May 21, the company announced.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
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As climate change delays the first winter frosts across much of North America, summer ragweed also keeps flowering longer, extending the latter part of pollen season into the fall, said David Wees, a faculty lecturer in horticulture at McGill University in Montreal.—
Keerti Gopal,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Verb
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On Good Morning Football on NFL Network, it was officially announced that the Steelers will take on the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France, which is the nation's largest stadium that holds over 80,000 people.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
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The gala’s funds support acquisitions of garments and accessories, but also the institute’s reference library, which holds over 800 periodicals and 1,500 designer files pertaining to the history of fashion and clothing, dating back to the sixteenth century.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Verb
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White often has been tight-lipped regarding her players’ injuries and repeatedly defers questions to the medical staff, which isn’t allowed to speak publicly about players’ health.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
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When one person defers financial control to another, power concentrates in one place.—
Jillian Sanders,
Time,
22 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Holds off (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20off%20%28on%29. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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