hold back
Third Person
holds back
Present Participle
holding back
Past Tense
held back
Past Participle
held back
1
to prevent someone or something from advancing or crossing a particular point
transitive
- The soldiers held back the advancing enemy forces with determination.
- The security guards tried to hold the excited fans back at the concert entrance.
- It's essential to hold back the spread of misinformation during a crisis.
- The reinforced steel fence held back the protesters from entering the restricted area.
- She tried to hold back the growing panic in the crowded theater.
2
to cause someone to hesitate before taking action or speaking
transitive
- His shyness held him back from approaching the group at the party.
- The thought of rejection held many students back from asking questions in class.
- The fear of failure often holds people back from taking risks.
- The uncertainty about the consequences held him back from making a decision.
- Her fear of judgment held her back from expressing her true feelings.
3
to suppress one's true feelings or emotions, often to avoid displaying them openly
transitive
- She tried to hold back her tears during the emotional farewell.
- She successfully held her anger back during the challenging negotiation.
- He had to hold back his frustration and maintain a calm demeanor in the meeting.
- He couldn't hold his laughter back when he heard the hilarious joke.
- It's not healthy to always hold back your feelings; sometimes, it's important to express them.
4
to not disclose information or facts that a person wants or needs to know
transitive
- She felt that her friend was holding back information about the upcoming surprise.
- Holding vital information back can lead to misunderstandings and mistrust.
- The government decided to hold back certain details about the incident.
- He admitted to holding back the truth in order to protect someone's feelings.
- They suspected the company was holding back critical financial data.
5
to refrain from taking immediate action or speaking out, typically due to uncertainty, reluctance
- They held back from making a decision until they had more information.
- She held back, unsure of how to respond to the unexpected question.
- He held back from offering his opinion during the contentious debate.
- It's natural to hold back when faced with a challenging dilemma.
Synonyms:
6
to hinder the effectiveness or progress of something or someone
transitive
- Technical issues can hold back the efficiency of our computer system.
- A lack of cooperation among team members can hold back project success.
- Bureaucratic red tape can hold back the process of obtaining permits.
- Outdated equipment can hold production processes back in a factory.
7
to refrain from using or giving one's full potential or power
- She often held back her talents to let others shine in the spotlight.
- The coach encouraged the team not to hold back and give their best effort.
- In negotiations, it's important to hold back some demands for compromise.
- Holding back your creativity can limit your potential for artistic expression.
- He held back his true strength in the friendly competition to make it fair.
8
to delay the progress of someone, typically a student, by retaining them in their current educational grade or level
transitive
- The decision to hold back a student should be based on their academic readiness.
- The school's policy is to hold back students who haven't mastered essential skills.
- Holding a student back in the early grades can provide them with a strong foundation.
- Some students may need additional help to catch up before being held back a grade.
- He was held back in second grade to give him more time to master math concepts.