holdout

[hohld-out]

noun

1. an act or instance of holding out.

2. a person who delays signing a contract in hopes of gaining more favorable terms.

   The basketball star was a holdout until they offered more money.

3. a person who declines to participate, cooperate, agree, etc..

   Aside from one or two holdouts, everyone contributed.

Word History and Origins

Origin of holdout¹

First recorded in 1890–95; noun use of verb phrase hold out

Example Sentences

Sharaa met Sunday night in Washington with Rep. Brian Mast, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who has been one of the last holdouts in Congress in repealing that 2019 legislation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With about half of the players and coaches left, Redick said he’s already noticing the holdouts actively planning their presentations before their nominations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Onset, which says it is owed $1.9 billion by the company, was one of the holdouts objecting to the DIP loan.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They include the customary anti-gambling holdouts Utah and Hawaii, and California, where ballot measures to legalize sports gambling were defeated in 2022.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The last holdouts either gave in and started buying internet stocks at peak prices, or got fired — to be replaced at the helm of their funds by dot-com enthusiasts.

Read more on MarketWatch

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