hold·out
ˈhōld-ˌau̇t 
held out; holding out; holds out
1
: to remain unsubdued or unyielding
where 30 of the … refugees were still holding out—
Anna Tomforde
Anna Tomforde
also
: to continue to function or be available : last entry 1
prayed that the engine would hold out
as long as our money holds out
2
: to refuse to go along with others in a concerted action or to come to an agreement
holding out for a shorter workweek
Examples of holdout in a Sentence
Noun
He says he might be a holdout at the start of the next season if the team doesn't agree to pay him more.
He is expected to end his three-week holdout and join the team tomorrow.
A few holdouts still use typewriters, but nearly everybody uses computers now.
Verb
we hoped our supply of firewood would hold out until power was restored
luckily, the old outboard motor held out till we made it to shore
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Trump has engaged in a pressure campaign to get the resolution passed through social media, in-person meetings with holdout Republicans, and during a speech in front of the National Republican Congressional Committee Tuesday evening.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2025
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Almost all are still holding out hope for someone else to pick up Maezawa’s torch, to turn a once far-off dream back into a reality.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdout
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Noun
However, Johnson and GOP leaders were unable to win over enough holdouts to move forward and at around 8.30 p.m. ET, the canceled the vote.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Trump has engaged in a pressure campaign to get the resolution passed through social media, in-person meetings with holdout Republicans, and during a speech in front of the National Republican Congressional Committee Tuesday evening.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
Shanahan, who spoke earlier Tuesday to reporters, expressed hope that Purdy would not hold out of the offseason program that begins in three weeks.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Almost all are still holding out hope for someone else to pick up Maezawa’s torch, to turn a once far-off dream back into a reality.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for holdout
Cite this Entry
“Holdout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdout. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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