holdover

1 of 2

noun

hold·​over ˈhōld-ˌō-vər How to pronounce holdover (audio)
: one that is held over

hold over

2 of 2

verb

held over; holding over; holds over

intransitive verb

: to continue (as in office) for a prolonged period

transitive verb

1
a
: postpone, defer
b
: to retain in a condition or position from an earlier period
2
: to prolong the engagement of
the film was held over another week

Synonyms

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of holdover in a Sentence

Noun He is the only holdover from their last championship team. This policy is a holdover from the previous administration. Verb the golf tournament had to be held over until the line of thunderstorms had passed through
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
What this means: Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, a holdover from Matt Eberflus’ coaching staff, will retain two of his most trusted and valued contributors. — Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025 Hollywood and American travelers are aided when visiting Malta by everyone in the tourism sector speaking perfect English, another holdover from British colonization. — Chadd Scott, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
That’s the only hold over coach from last season and that unit played well. — Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025 Apocalypse in the Tropics investigates the increasingly powerful grip that faith leaders hold over politics in Brazil. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for holdover

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1893, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1647, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of holdover was in 1647

Rhymes for holdover

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Browse Nearby Words

holdover
hold over
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Cite this Entry

“Holdover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdover. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

hold over

verb
: to continue beyond a normal or planned time
the movie was held over for three weeks
holdover
ˈhōl-ˌdō-vər
noun

Legal Definition

hold over

intransitive verb
: to remain in a position or condition
one who holds over in possession of a building after the expiration of a term of years— B. N. Cardozo
holdover noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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