hold over
Britishverb
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to defer consideration of or action on
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to postpone for a further period
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to prolong (a note, chord, etc) from one bar to the next
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(preposition) to intimidate (a person) with (a threat)
noun
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an elected official who continues in office after his term has expired
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a performer or performance continuing beyond the original engagement
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Postpone or delay, as in Let's hold this matter over until the next meeting . [Mid-1800s]
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Keep something in a position or state beyond the normal period, as in The film was to be held over for another week . [First half of 1900s]
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Continue in office past the normal period, as in The committee chair held over until they could find a suitable replacement . [Mid-1600s]
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hold something over someone . Have an advantage or use a threat to control someone. For example, They knew he'd been caught shoplifting and were sure to hold it over him . [Second half of 1800s]
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.
Analysts view the platform as evidence of China’s renewed push to tighten its hold over the contested shoal, 145 miles from Luzon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026
An Irish reporter asked Trump about the proposed expansion of his golf resort in County Clare, which is currently on hold over the fate of a protected species of snail.
From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026
The 32 members of the IEA hold over 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government mandates.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
We Pay The Tariffs, a coalition of small businesses that has spoken out against the tariffs, said the trade war has put hiring and expansion plans on hold over the past year.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026
Like all too many dictators, Cahokia’s rulers focused on maintaining their hold over the people, paying little attention to external reality.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
