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.
Although UCLA’s offense turned in a strong performance, its defense struggled to hold back a Purdue team that lost its 19th consecutive conference game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
New dams and debris basins turned the vast natural waterways and springs and creeks of old L.A. into a chutes-and-ladders system to divert and hold back water and mud, before the next time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
The estimable podcaster Dwarkesh Patel tweeted last week that “any global agreement to hold back a technology with enormous near-term economic and military benefits will be extremely fragile.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
She had just found out that the King had cancer and would need treatment but had to hold back from telling anyone as the official announcement had not been made public.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
I tried to hold back the tears, but they were already forming.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
