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.

Traditionally, logs made of coir - coconut husk - have been imported from South-East Asia to reduce erosion, hold back water and also re-wet degraded peatland.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

MarketWatch: Investors once again are faced with a decision to either chase the stock-market rally or hold back.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

As ice shelves become thinner and weaker, they lose some of their ability to hold back the glaciers behind them.

From Science Daily • May 10, 2026

Friar had to hold back tears in the office, she said in a 2023 Stanford Business School interview.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

Mr. Squirrel shouted as he struggled to hold back Silent Sam.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques