withhold

[ with-hohld, with- ]
See synonyms for withhold on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),with·held, with·hold·ing.
  1. to hold back; restrain or check.

  2. to refrain from giving or granting: to withhold payment.

  1. to collect (taxes) at the source of income.

  2. to deduct (withholding tax) from an employee's salary or wages.

verb (used without object),with·held, with·hold·ing.
  1. to hold back; refrain.

  2. to deduct withholding tax.

Origin of withhold

1
First recorded in 1150–1200, withhold is from the Middle English word withholden. See with-, hold1

synonym study For withhold

1, 2. See keep.

Other words for withhold

Opposites for withhold

Other words from withhold

  • with·hold·er, noun
  • un·with·held, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use withhold in a sentence

  • He wanted to tell her that if she called her father, it would mean the end of everything for them, but he withheld this.

    The Homesteader | Oscar Micheaux
  • Aguinaldo withheld his decision until Paterno could report to him the definite opinions of his generals.

    The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
  • Accordingly all through the campaign Napoleon constantly came to him for advice, which was never withheld.

    Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
  • It is true that some things vowed might have been withheld, but not without the offering of a definite sum of money.

  • When there are so many good and beautiful things in the world, why do you see only this that is being withheld?

    Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. Drinkwater

British Dictionary definitions for withhold

withhold

/ (wɪðˈhəʊld) /


verb-holds, -holding or -held
  1. (tr) to keep back; refrain from giving: he withheld his permission

  2. (tr) to hold back; restrain

  1. (tr) to deduct (taxes, etc) from a salary or wages

  2. (intr usually foll by from) to refrain or forbear

Derived forms of withhold

  • withholder, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012