hold back: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “hold back” mean?
To physically restrain someone or something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To physically restrain someone or something; to prevent or delay progress.
To hesitate or show reluctance to act or speak; to conceal or keep information secret; to limit the success or development of someone or something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both varieties use all meanings equally. Spelling of derived forms may differ (e.g., 'holdback' as a noun is less common in UK English).
Connotations
In both, it can imply a negative force (something being unfairly restricted) or a positive self-control (holding back anger).
Frequency
Equally common and natural in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “hold back” in a Sentence
[Subject] + hold back + [Object][Subject] + hold back + [Object] + from + [Verb-ing/NP][Subject] + hold back + on + [NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hold back” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The police held back the protesters with a barrier.
- Don't hold back your opinion during the meeting.
American English
- Security held back the crowd from the stage.
- The company is holding back on the release until next quarter.
adverb
British English
- He spoke hold-back, carefully choosing his words. (Rare, non-standard)
- The payment came through, hold-back. (Rare, non-standard)
American English
- She acted hold-back, not wanting to commit. (Rare, non-standard)
- The project moved forward, hold-back. (Rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He's very hold-back about his personal life. (Less common, informal)
- There was a hold-back in the delivery schedule.
American English
- She has a hold-back attitude when it comes to risks. (Less common, informal)
- The report cited supply chain hold-backs.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"Budget cuts are holding back innovation in the department."
Academic
"The researcher did not hold back any data, ensuring full transparency."
Everyday
"I had to hold back from telling him exactly what I thought."
Technical
"The dam is designed to hold back millions of gallons of water."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hold back”
- *He hold back his anger. (Correct: He HELD back his anger.)
- *She was holding back to tell the truth. (Correct: She was holding back FROM telling the truth.)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can say 'hold the dog back' or 'hold back the dog'. However, with pronouns, it must be separated: 'hold him back' (correct), 'hold back him' (incorrect).
'Hold back' means to restrain, delay, or conceal. 'Hold on' primarily means to wait ('Hold on a minute') or to grip tightly ('Hold on to the railing').
Yes, when it refers to prudent self-control. Example: 'It was wise of him to hold back his initial angry reaction and respond calmly.'
The noun is 'holdback' (one word, less common) or more frequently, the gerund 'holding back' is used. Example: 'The holdback of funds caused delays.' / 'The holding back of funds caused delays.'
To physically restrain someone or something.
Hold back is usually informal to neutral in register.
Hold back: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhəʊld bæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhoʊld bæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hold back the tide (to try to stop something inevitable)”
- “No holds barred (with no restrictions)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a dog on a leash HOLDing you BACK from walking forward.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION / EMOTIONS ARE FLUIDS. Holding back is applying a force against this motion or flow.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'Her shyness held her back in meetings,' what is the closest meaning of 'held back'?