held back
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.
See Examples For:
But Ohtani held back his hands long enough to extend them to the pitch and shoot it through the right side of the infield.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
Sabalenka held back tears during her post-match interview where she praised Rybakina's performance.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Molchanova said she felt out of place, held back by her limited English.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
“Immigration policy changes likely held back payrolls growth in August,” said Bill Adams, chief economist at Fifth Third Commercial Bank.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026
The tears of this boy, tears held back these many years, come falling.
From "Beast Rider" by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
Although the held-back funds make up less than 1% of California’s education budget, they have an outsize cumulative effect.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2025
The held-back funds are tied to programs that, in some cases, have received these dollars for decades.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2025
In one moment, a student may sing a solo that lights up the room like a supernova only for them to later sing it through a clenched throat and held-back tears.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2022
Each jurisdiction must appoint two full-time commissioners and submit applications laying out the commission’s safety and investigative credentials and establishing its independence from Metro before the held-back money can be released, FTA officials say.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 23, 2017
I no longer feel the sinking in my gut, the held-back tearfulness that such a false accusation would once have produced.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
