hold back
Britishverb
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to restrain or be restrained
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(tr) to withhold
he held back part of the payment
noun
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a strap of the harness joining the breeching to the shaft, so that the horse can hold back the vehicle
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something that restrains or hinders
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Also, keep back.
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Retain in one's possession or control, as in He held back vital information , or I managed to keep back my tears . [First half of 1500s]
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Restrain one-self, as in She held back from joining the others , or I wanted to denounce him right there, but I kept back for fear of making a scene . The first usage dates from the second half of the 1500s, the variant from the early 1800s.
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Impede the progress of, as in The barriers held back traffic during the funeral procession , or Her daughter was kept back and had to repeat first grade .
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.
DeArmas, usually so composed, couldn't hold back his tears.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
But asked what they actually wanted, fathers didn’t hold back.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
Erick Erickson, the conservative radio host and founder of the RedState political blog, did not hold back.
From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic did not hold back when asked about his feelings on where the furore surrounding Southampton's activities left his own side.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
I breathe slowly, trying to hold back frustrated tears.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
