withhold
Americanverb (used with object)
-
withholds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
withheld,
past participle, past
-
withholding
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
withholds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
withheld,
past participle, past
-
withholding
present participle
-
to hold back; refrain.
-
to deduct withholding tax.
verb
-
(tr) to keep back; refrain from giving
he withheld his permission
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(tr) to hold back; restrain
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(tr) to deduct (taxes, etc) from a salary or wages
-
to refrain or forbear
Synonym Usage
See keep.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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withholdsimple
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withholdssimple
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have withheldperfect
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has withheldperfect
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am withholdingprogressive
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are withholdingprogressive
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is withholdingprogressive
-
have been withholdingperfect progressive
-
has been withholdingperfect progressive
Past
-
withheldsimple
-
had withheldperfect
-
was withholdingprogressive
-
were withholdingprogressive
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had been withholdingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of withhold
First recorded in 1150–1200, withhold is from the Middle English word withholden. See with-, hold 1
Explanation
If you keep something back and don't share it, you withhold it. You can withhold things such as permission, emotion, or information. You might get into trouble if you withhold information from your parents or the police. The verb withhold means to deduct from a payment and hold back. Your job will withhold money from your paycheck for things like taxes. You may also choose to withhold money from your check for healthcare, retirement, and numerous other voluntary accounts. The past tense of the verb withhold is withheld. Withhold is spelled with a double h because it is made by combining the words with and hold.
Vocabulary lists containing withhold
The Pearl
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100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act III
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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.
See Examples For:
Also known by its rather unsubtle acronym, CRUSH, this initiative is taking unprecedented steps to withhold and defer funds in response to suspected fraud.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
Officials must also disclose whether they intend to withhold any requested records and give statutory or legal reasons for doing so.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Both the US firms had to temporarily withhold the general release of these latest technologies because of fears in Washington that they could help break into crucial infrastructure.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
It is a request for faith that Buchanan and Tullock’s public-choice theory gives us every reason to withhold.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
In fact, Mrs. Baylor became extra-polite and extra-careful to withhold any hint of intimacy or special bond.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
Every ton China withholds is a ton removed from the market, driving up prices.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
In addition, the Social Security Administration withholds a portion of benefits for individuals whose income is higher than certain thresholds before their full retirement age.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 5, 2026
For most taxpayers, their employer withholds taxes in every paycheck, with the majority due a tax refund for having overpaid.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 25, 2026
"I thought about resigning. But I need this money," said 48-year-old bus driver David, who withholds his surname for fear of reprisal.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2025
He may, and I believe often does, compensate for the means which he withholds; but this gives no ground to suppose that he will make up for those which we neglect.'
From Discipline by Brunton, Mary
Six months after the publicly released two previously withheld ransom notes while the family renewed its plea for anyone with information to come forward.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
The videogame company also withheld its full-year outlook, transitioning to a quarterly-only guidance earlier than scheduled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Details of where the offences took place have been withheld to protect the alleged victims' right to anonymity.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
I can’t blame anyone who feels unfairly treated in this scenario: They owe tax on $20,000 they didn’t ask to be withheld and never had possession of the funds.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 19, 2026
It withheld the refreshment in a sleep slept on it.
From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
He registered for Connecticut tax withholding for his nurses, according to court records.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
That could mean struggling for the last of a certain flavor of sports drink or withholding access to a doctor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Centcom is withholding additional information, including the identities of the missing and fallen servicemembers, out of respect for the families during the notification process, the command said in a statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
One year, those withholding elections weren’t updated, resulting in a sizable payment to the Internal Revenue Service.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
Hoover thought Dasch was withholding information so that he would have leverage over the FBI and would be considered indispensable.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
