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
MacKinnon remained stuck on 102 points after being held off the scoresheet by the Calgary Flames on Friday.
—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025
In the other match on the league’s opening night, the Washington Spirit held off the Houston Dash 2-1.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
President Trump has held off on enforcing the ban, but a sale deadline is approaching on April 5.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 13 Mar. 2025
Georgia Tech 66, Virginia 60 Georgia Tech held off Virginia in the opening game of Day 2.
—Steve Wiseman, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold off
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Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025
In the other match on the league’s opening night, the Washington Spirit held off the Houston Dash 2-1.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
President Trump has held off on enforcing the ban, but a sale deadline is approaching on April 5.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 13 Mar. 2025
Georgia Tech 66, Virginia 60 Georgia Tech held off Virginia in the opening game of Day 2.
—Steve Wiseman, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 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 Mar. 2025.
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