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- pronunciation:
- wIth
hold
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Word Builder, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
withholds, withholding, withheld |
| definition 1: |
to deliberately hold back; restrain.
Although she was furious at work, she withheld her anger until she got home.Please withhold judgement on the matter until you've considered all the facts.Knowing how sensitive he was about his appearance, she withheld comment on his strange new haircut.- synonyms:
- control, hold, restrain, stay
- similar words:
- arrest, bottle up, bridle, check, contain, curb, prevent, repress, smother, suppress, swallow
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| definition 2: |
to refrain from giving.
They withheld food and water from the prisoner until he told them what they wanted to know.The company withheld his pay while he was in the hospital.His mother had been a cold and stern woman who had withheld affection from all of her children.
- synonyms:
- deny, retain
- antonyms:
- accord, give, provide, surrender, yield
- similar words:
- block, conceal, deprive, dock, hush up, keep, refuse, repress, reserve, suppress
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| related words: |
classify, hold out, save, spare, stay, suspend |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition: |
to refrain.
- synonyms:
- refrain
- similar words:
- abstain, cease, desist, forbear
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| related words: |
abstain, spare |
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| derivation: |
withholder (n.) |
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