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.

I press my lips closed, holding back details that I know won’t help my case.

From Literature

U.S. jobless claims rose slightly last week as employers held back from widespread layoffs.

From The Wall Street Journal

That leaves the BOJ in a familiar bind: Hike too soon and risk clipping fragile growth, or hold back and risk damaging household confidence, plus U.S. scrutiny if the yen weakens excessively.

From The Wall Street Journal

Two-thirds of children who were held back had summer birthdays between June and August — near the kindergarten enrollment cutoff dates in most states — and would have been young for their grade.

From Los Angeles Times

In both cases, the Islamic Republic has held back in hopes of avoiding the sort of war it is now having to fight, Lewis said.

From The Wall Street Journal