hold 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.

“It kind of siphoned all of that pent-up, closeted stuff that you hold back, that you couldn’t freely express,” she said.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

Relentless predator control—through poisoning, trapping and shooting, and high mesh fences that can hold back everything from a baby mouse to a pig—are the only hope for continued nesting of native seabirds on the islands.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Ice shelves act as barriers that hold back Antarctica's inland glaciers and ice sheets.

From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2026

The main risk isn’t so much its direct exposure to precious-metals prices, but how sharply lower gold or silver prices might limit sentiment toward the asset class and hold back transaction volumes, affecting earnings.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

“No buts,” I whisper to myself, unable to hold back the smile that creeps out on my lips.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz