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hold back

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: hold back

1
 v
refrain from doing
2
 v
secure and keep for possible future use or application
3
 v
keep under control; keep in check
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: hold back
1

v refrain from doing

Synonyms:
forbear
Type of:
forbear, refrain
resist doing something

v wait before acting

Synonyms:
hold off, wait
Types:
show 6 types...
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hold out
wait uncompromisingly for something desirable
delay
act later than planned, scheduled, or required
hesitate, pause
interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
dilly-dally, dillydally, drag one's feet, drag one's heels, procrastinate, shillyshally, stall
postpone doing what one should be doing
procrastinate
postpone or delay needlessly
defer, hold over, postpone, prorogue, put off, put over, remit, set back, shelve, table
hold back to a later time
Type of:
act, move
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

v hold back; keep from being perceived by others

Synonyms:
conceal, hold in
Types:
occult
hide from view
2

v secure and keep for possible future use or application

Synonyms:
hold, keep back, retain
Types:
hold down
keep
Type of:
hold on, keep
retain possession of
3

v keep under control; keep in check

Synonyms:
keep, keep back, restrain
Types:
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hold
keep from exhaling or expelling
confine
prevent from leaving or from being removed
bottle up, inhibit, suppress
control and refrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior
check, contain, control, curb, hold, hold in, moderate
lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
bound, confine, limit, restrain, restrict, throttle, trammel
place limits on (extent or access)
conquer, curb, inhibit, stamp down, subdue, suppress
to put down by force or authority
damp
restrain or discourage
cabin
confine to a small space, such as a cabin
closet
confine to a small space, as for intensive work
coop in, coop up
confine in or as if in a coop
lock, lock away, lock in, lock up, put away, shut away, shut up
place in a place where something cannot be removed or someone cannot escape
lock in, seal in
close with or as if with a tight seal
crucify, mortify, subdue
hold within limits and control
abnegate, deny
deny oneself (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure
keep, keep back, restrain
keep under control; keep in check
quench
electronics: suppress (sparking) when the current is cut off in an inductive circuit, or suppress (an oscillation or discharge) in a component or device
choke
check or slow down the action or effect of
restrict
place under restrictions; limit access to
train
cause to grow in a certain way by tying and pruning it
catch
check oneself during an action
bate
moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
thermostat
control the temperature with a thermostat
counteract, countercheck
oppose or check by a counteraction
Type of:
bottle up, inhibit, suppress
control and refrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior

v hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of

Synonyms:
arrest, check, contain, stop, turn back
Types:
cut down, cut out
intercept (a player)
Type of:
defend
be on the defensive; act against an attack
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