hold out

British  

verb

1. (tr) to offer or present

2. (intr) to last or endure

3. (intr) to continue to resist or stand firm, as a city under siege or a person refusing to succumb to persuasion

4. to withhold (something due or expected)

5. to wait patiently or uncompromisingly for (the fulfilment of one's demands)

6. informal to delay in or keep from telling (a person) some new or important information

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noun

1. a person, country, organization, etc, that continues to resist or refuses to change

   Honecker was one of the staunchest holdouts against reform

2. a person, country, organization, etc, that declines to cooperate or participate

   they remain the only holdouts to signing the accord

hold out Idioms  

1. Extend, stretch forth; also, present or offer something. For example, He held out his hand and she took it , or The new policy held out promise of major changes in the welfare program . These usages date from the first half of the 1500s and of the 1600s respectively.

2. Last, continue to be in supply or service, as in The food is holding out nicely . [Late 1500s] Also see hold up , def. 4.

3. Continue to resist, as in The garrison held out for another month . [Second half of 1700s]

4. Withhold cooperation, agreement, or information, as in We've asked for a better deal, but they've been holding out for months . It is also put as hold out on , as in They were still holding out on some of the provisions , or He's not telling us what happened; he's holding out on us .

5. hold out for . Insist on obtaining, as in The union is still holding out for a better contract . [c. 1900]

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Example Sentences

"If Auroville," which has a big international profile and has been praised by UNESCO, "does not hold out against the plundering and devastation of our natural resources, then we are all doomed," he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

Estimates of Iran’s onshore capacity range widely from 57% to 90% full, meaning Tehran could hit the wall in days—or hold out for weeks.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The longer you hold out before claiming Social Security, the better, especially if you expect to live into your 80s or 90s.

From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026

“If we don’t hold out own parties accountable, it’s a poor reflection on us as a whole.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

When she did open her eyes we wanted to give her a hug or say, “Hi, Auntie!” but she didn’t smile or hold out her arms.

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Related Words

• hold on
• withstand