withhold

[ with-hohld, with- ]

/ wɪθˈhoʊld, wɪð- /

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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.

Nearby words

Origin of withhold

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

SYNONYMS FOR withhold

1, 2. suppress, repress. See keep.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR withhold ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR withhold

1, 2. advance.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for withheld

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

The real names of Professor Zhang and Mr. Jiang have been withheld to protect their ongoing research agendas.
China Propagandizes Rape Of Nanjing Survivors|Brendon Hong|December 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Nothing was withheld from him but the crown; nor did even the crown seem to be absolutely beyond his reach.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
For three years this bounty of heaven had been withheld from the inhabitants of these deserts.
Perils and Captivity|Charlotte-Adlade [ne Picard] Dard
Then Bill explained the fire building but, recalling Lois Ann, withheld any further information.
The Man Thou Gavest|Harriet T. Comstock
He himself had withheld from her for many years the only knowledge that could have made her share his present feeling.
A Spirit in Prison|Robert Hichens
The thoughts of youth are very long, and its conclusions are deliberate and delayed, and often withheld altogether.
An Open-Eyed Conspiracy|W. D. Howells

British Dictionary definitions for withheld

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 Formswithholder, 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

Word Origin and History for withheld

withhold

c.1200, from with- "back, away" (see with) + holden "to hold" (see hold (v.)); probably a loan-translation of Latin retinere "to withhold." Related: Withheld; withholding. Past participle form withholden was still used 19c.

withhold

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

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

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Nearby words

Origin of withhold

Examples from the Web for withheld

withhold

verb -holds, -holding or -held

withhold