hold back
Britishverb
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to restrain or be restrained
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(tr) to withhold
he held back part of the payment
noun
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a strap of the harness joining the breeching to the shaft, so that the horse can hold back the vehicle
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something that restrains or hinders
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Also, keep back.
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Retain in one's possession or control, as in He held back vital information , or I managed to keep back my tears . [First half of 1500s]
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Restrain one-self, as in She held back from joining the others , or I wanted to denounce him right there, but I kept back for fear of making a scene . The first usage dates from the second half of the 1500s, the variant from the early 1800s.
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Impede the progress of, as in The barriers held back traffic during the funeral procession , or Her daughter was kept back and had to repeat first grade .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Worries about the impact of artificial intelligence on the job market are another reason for workers to hold back on higher pay demands.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
Italy's World Cup heartbreak was crystallised in the tear-streaked face of coach Rino Gattuso, who struggled to hold back his emotions after the national team's defeat.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
RSP deputy chairman DP Aryal urged supporters to hold back on celebrations.
From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026
The MPs in the chamber did not hold back.
From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026
Her mouth is stretched out like it’s all she can do to hold back a mountain of sobbing.
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.