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.
The news release didn’t state the condition of the injured people and said it was withholding the identities of the deceased individuals, pending notification of their families.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 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
A ministry spokeswoman said it was withholding information to safeguard similar actions in the future with the U.S. military.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026
The deception was for his benefit—he was withholding information because patients might have refused to participate in his study if they’d known what he was injecting.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
