withhold

[ with-hohld, with- ]

/ wɪθˈhoʊld, wɪð- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: withhold / withheld / withholding / withholds on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), with·held, with·hold·ing.

to hold back; restrain or check.

to refrain from giving or granting: to withhold payment.

to collect (taxes) at the source of income.

to deduct (withholding tax) from an employee's salary or wages.

verb (used without object), with·held, with·hold·ing.

to hold back; refrain.

to deduct withholding tax.

OTHER WORDS FOR withhold

1, 2 suppress, repress.

See synonyms for withhold on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR withhold

1, 2 advance.

See antonyms for withhold on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of withhold

First recorded in 1150–1200, withhold is from the Middle English word withholden. See with-, hold¹

synonym study for withhold

1, 2. See keep.

OTHER WORDS FROM withhold

with·hold·er, nounun·with·held, adjective

How to use withhold in a sentence

As for Snyderman and her three colleagues, whose names were also withheld, they will be flown home on a chartered aircraft.
NBC Cameraman Gets Ebola, News Crew to Be Quarantined|Lloyd Grove|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the charges are cover for cultural misunderstandings, sexual assaults, and withheld wages.
Will Saudi Arabia Execute Guest Workers for 'Witchcraft'?|Michael Schulson|March 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He withheld the salaries of parliamentarians who refused to rubberstamp his laws, and lawyers who challenged him were disbarred.
Forget Kim Jong Un—China’s New Favorite Dictator Is Belarus’s Aleksandr Lukashenko.|Kapil Komireddi|January 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Because more people are working at slightly higher wages, the volume of withheld income and payroll taxes is on the upswing.
The Deficit Excuse Is Fading Fast|Daniel Gross|January 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In addition to collecting withheld payment taxes, companies and individuals pay quarterly taxes.
The Deficit Excuse Is Fading Fast|Daniel Gross|January 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He wanted to tell her that if she called her father, it would mean the end of everything for them, but he withheld this.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Aguinaldo withheld his decision until Paterno could report to him the definite opinions of his generals.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Accordingly all through the campaign Napoleon constantly came to him for advice, which was never withheld.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
It is true that some things vowed might have been withheld, but not without the offering of a definite sum of money.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
When there are so many good and beautiful things in the world, why do you see only this that is being withheld?
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater

British Dictionary definitions for withhold

withhold

/ (wɪðˈhəʊld) /

verb -holds, -holding or -held

(tr) to keep back; refrain from givinghe withheld his permission

(tr) to hold back; restrain

(tr) to deduct (taxes, etc) from a salary or wages

(intr usually foll by from) to refrain or forbear

Derived forms of withhold

withholder, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

withhold

OTHER WORDS FOR withhold

OPPOSITES FOR withhold

Origin of withhold

synonym study for withhold

OTHER WORDS FROM withhold

Words related to withhold

How to use withhold in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for withhold

Derived forms of withhold