withhold

[with-hohld, with-]

verb (used with object)

withheld, withholding 

1. to hold back; restrain or check.

   Synonyms: repress, suppress
   Antonyms: advance

2. to refrain from giving or granting.

   to withhold payment.

   Synonyms: repress, suppress
   Antonyms: advance

3. to collect (taxes) at the source of income.

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

verb (used without object)

withheld, withholding 

1. to hold back; refrain.

2. to deduct withholding tax.

withhold

/ wɪðˈhəʊld /

verb

1. (tr) to keep back; refrain from giving

   he withheld his permission

2. (tr) to hold back; restrain

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

4. to refrain or forbear

Other Word Forms

• withholder noun
• unwithheld adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of withhold¹

First recorded in 1150–1200, withhold is from the Middle English word withholden. See with-, hold ¹

Synonym Study

See keep.

Example Sentences

His comments came less than a week after it was disclosed that the Pentagon was withholding a shipment of arms earmarked for Ukraine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Employees typically have state and federal taxes automatically withheld from their paychecks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The directive comes as other government employees have already had some pay withheld and others are being laid off.

Read more on BBC

He threatened to withhold state funding to any California university that agrees to it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The documents further claim that BBC Studios told Wallace it was withholding parts of his data on the basis of "freedom of expression".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• conceal 
• deduct 
• deny 
• detain 
• hide 
• keep 
• refuse 
• resist 
• retain 
• suppress