Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [hohld awf, of]
- /hoʊld ɔf, ɒf/
- /həʊld ɒf/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [hohld awf, of]
- /hoʊld ɔf, ɒf/
Definitions of hold off words
- verb with object hold off to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp: She held the purse in her right hand. He held the child's hand in his. 1
- verb with object hold off to set aside; reserve or retain: to hold merchandise until called for; to hold a reservation. 1
- verb with object hold off to bear, sustain, or support, as with the hands or arms, or by any other means. 1
- verb with object hold off to keep in a specified state, relation, etc.: The preacher held them spellbound. 1
- verb with object hold off to detain: The police held him at the station house. 1
- verb with object hold off to engage in; preside over; carry on: to hold a meeting. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of hold off
First appearance:
before 900 One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English holden, Old English h(e)aldan; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Norse halda, Old Saxon, Gothic haldan, Old High German haltan (German halten)
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Hold off
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
hold off popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
hold off usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for hold off
verb hold off
- bit — A bit of something is a small part or section of it.
- bridle — A bridle is a set of straps that is put around a horse's head and mouth so that the person riding or driving the horse can control it.
- check — Check is also a noun.
- control — Control of an organization, place, or system is the power to make all the important decisions about the way that it is run.
- curb — If you curb something, you control it and keep it within limits.
Antonyms for hold off
verb hold off
- let go — to move or proceed, especially to or from something: They're going by bus.
- reveal — to make known; disclose; divulge: to reveal a secret.
- hasten — to move or act with haste; proceed with haste; hurry: to hasten to a place.
- hurry — to move, proceed, or act with haste (often followed by up): Hurry, or we'll be late. Hurry up, it's starting to rain.
- carry out — If you carry out a threat, task, or instruction, you do it or act according to it.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with h
- Words starting with ho
- Words starting with hol
- Words starting with hold
- Words starting with holdo
- Words starting with holdof
- Words starting with holdoff