hold·back
ˈhōl(d)-ˌbak 
1
: something that retains or restrains
2
a
: the act of holding back
b
: something held back
held back; holding back; holds back
1
a
: to hinder the progress or achievement of : restrain
b
: to keep from advancing to the next stage, grade, or level
2
: to refrain from revealing or parting with
held back important information
1
: to keep oneself in check
2
: to refrain from revealing or parting with something
Synonyms
Examples of holdback in a Sentence
Noun
there'll be a holdback on production until the new machinery is fully installed
the only holdback to starting the new job is my contractual commitment to my current position
Verb
the only thing holding them back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation
held back her tears until she was alone
Recent Examples on the Web
Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
The best rooms look as though they've been decorated over time, like this one featuring a collection of distressed wood dressers, a metal bed frame, and antique drapery holdbacks.
—Andrea Crowley, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
That's because the manufacturer will typically designate a holdback price, or a percentage of the MSRP or invoice.
—Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
France Télévisions also has first-window exclusivity for the French-language version, with a one-year holdback.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
The manufacturer pays the holdback price to the dealership once the dealer sells the vehicle.
—Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
There is a six-month holdback for the launch of the English-language versions in France.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
The reason Cannes doesn’t show Netflix films is simply because of the film law in France, which defines a very long holdback period after a film can move from theatrical release to streaming.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 Oct. 2022
The Prime Video Original will launch worldwide on the streaming platform and will be available to linear TV and other outlets after a holdback, said Lozano.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Nov. 2022
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 May 2024
In the jungles of southeastern Burma's Dawna Hills, rebels from an armed ethnic group are fighting to hold back columns of reinforcements sent by the country's ruling junta to try to reclaim Myawaddy, a critical trading outpost on the Thai border.
—Fox News, 7 May 2024
The creator of the Super Mario Bros. games is also likely to hold back major releases of its most popular franchises to help boost initial sales of the next machine.
—Takashi Mochizuki, Fortune Asia, 7 May 2024
Quinoa absorbs copious amounts of spice, so don’t hold back with your seasonings.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 6 May 2024
This large convertible has a lot going for it, like a premium design and a beautiful OLED display, but it's held back by middling performance.
—PCMAG, 5 May 2024
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Love it or hate it, Doja Cat did not hold back for the 2023 Met Gala.
—Renee Anderson, CBS News, 4 May 2024
Advertisement On the other side of the net, UC Irvine players tried to hold back tears while wrapping each other in emotional embraces.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Blinken said the U.S. did not aim to hold back China’s development or decouple the world’s two largest economies.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024
Noun
The other half of the moneys would be released to the clients' captives within 180 days, less some holdback that would last until the reinsurance policy expired (usually at the end of the year), plus some additional days tacked on for the extended reporting period.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
The best rooms look as though they've been decorated over time, like this one featuring a collection of distressed wood dressers, a metal bed frame, and antique drapery holdbacks.
—Andrea Crowley, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
That's because the manufacturer will typically designate a holdback price, or a percentage of the MSRP or invoice.
—Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
France Télévisions also has first-window exclusivity for the French-language version, with a one-year holdback.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
The manufacturer pays the holdback price to the dealership once the dealer sells the vehicle.
—Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023
There is a six-month holdback for the launch of the English-language versions in France.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 11 Jan. 2023
The reason Cannes doesn’t show Netflix films is simply because of the film law in France, which defines a very long holdback period after a film can move from theatrical release to streaming.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 25 Oct. 2022
The Prime Video Original will launch worldwide on the streaming platform and will be available to linear TV and other outlets after a holdback, said Lozano.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Nov. 2022
Verb
But these gee-whiz offers aren’t likely to hold back market dynamics.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 May 2024
In the jungles of southeastern Burma's Dawna Hills, rebels from an armed ethnic group are fighting to hold back columns of reinforcements sent by the country's ruling junta to try to reclaim Myawaddy, a critical trading outpost on the Thai border.
—Fox News, 7 May 2024
The creator of the Super Mario Bros. games is also likely to hold back major releases of its most popular franchises to help boost initial sales of the next machine.
—Takashi Mochizuki, Fortune Asia, 7 May 2024
Quinoa absorbs copious amounts of spice, so don’t hold back with your seasonings.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 6 May 2024
This large convertible has a lot going for it, like a premium design and a beautiful OLED display, but it's held back by middling performance.
—PCMAG, 5 May 2024
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Love it or hate it, Doja Cat did not hold back for the 2023 Met Gala.
—Renee Anderson, CBS News, 4 May 2024
Advertisement On the other side of the net, UC Irvine players tried to hold back tears while wrapping each other in emotional embraces.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Blinken said the U.S. did not aim to hold back China’s development or decouple the world’s two largest economies.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holdback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near holdback
Cite this Entry
“Holdback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdback. Accessed 14 May. 2024.
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