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

See Examples For:

hold out

The strategy hinges in part on how long Taiwan could hold out against China’s much larger military force, and whether it could survive until allies arrive or China quits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

But Infantino still retains support and he could try to hold out until March, when he is up for re-election for a fourth and final term as president.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

Although the village was evacuated on Friday, Clivaz said he and his family were trying to hold out.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

According to a RetailMeNot survey, 66% of Americans said they were at least somewhat likely to hold out until Memorial Day to make a purchase they’ve been eyeing.

From MarketWatch ● May 21, 2026

After several seconds of serious misgivings, I hold out my hand.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Related Words

• hold on
• withstand