withhold

English
WOTD – 29 October 2008

Etymology

From Middle English withholden. Equivalent to with- +‎ hold.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /wɪθˈhəʊld/, /wɪðˈhəʊld/
  • (US) IPA(key): /wɪθˈhoʊld/, /wɪðˈhoʊld/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Audio (AU)(file)
  • Rhymes: -əʊld

Verb

withhold (third-person singular simple present withholds, present participle withholding, simple past withheld, past participle withheld or (rare, archaic) withholden)

  1. (transitive) To keep (a physical object that one has obtained) to oneself rather than giving it back to its owner.
    The bank withheld her credit card.
  2. (transitive) To keep (information, assent etc) to oneself rather than revealing it.
    withhold vital information
    a withheld phone number
  3. (intransitive) To stay back. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Synonyms
  • (keep (a physical object) to oneself): retain

Derived terms

Translations
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