withhold
verb (used with object)
to hold back; restrain or check.
was withholding
-
past progressiveof withhold.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
"They then wrote to me, and said that if I refused to send it back, they'd issue court proceedings because I was withholding information that was rightfully theirs."
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
By early 2026, large majorities of Americans believed the government was withholding key information about Epstein and his alleged accomplices, and dissatisfaction with the pace and transparency of disclosures was overwhelming.
From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2026
Another NHK staff member -- whose identity CPJ said it was withholding for safety reasons -- fled Iran in early February after being summoned several times, CPJ said.
From Barron's ● Apr. 7, 2026
Last month the Justice Department filed suit against Harvard University, alleging that it was withholding information necessary for the government to determine whether its admission process unlawfully discriminated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
Privately, the FBI agents wondered if Dasch was withholding information.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
