First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
withhold
verb with·hold \with-ˈhōld, with-\
: to hold (something) back
: to refuse to provide (something)
: to take out (an amount of money for taxes) from someone's income
with·held\-ˈheld\with·hold·ing
Full Definition of WITHHOLD
transitive verb
1
: to hold back from action : check
2
archaic : to keep in custody
3
: to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing <withhold permission>
4
: to deduct (withholding tax) from income
intransitive verb
See withhold defined for English-language learners
See withhold defined for kids
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Origin of WITHHOLD
Middle English, from with from + holden to hold — more at with
Related to WITHHOLD
Synonym Discussion of WITHHOLD
keep, observe, celebrate, commemorate mean to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed. keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating <kept the Sabbath by refraining from work>. observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance <not all holidays are observed nationally>. celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity <traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner>. commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event <commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths>.
keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control <keep this while I'm gone>. retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss <managed to retain their dignity even in poverty>. detain suggests a delay in letting go <detained them for questioning>. withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go <withheld information from the authorities>. reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use <reserve some of your energy for the last mile>.
keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control <keep this while I'm gone>. retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss <managed to retain their dignity even in poverty>. detain suggests a delay in letting go <detained them for questioning>. withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go <withheld information from the authorities>. reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use <reserve some of your energy for the last mile>.
Rhymes with WITHHOLD
acold, age-old, ahold, all told, behold, bifold, billfold, black gold, blindfold, blue mold, bread mold, choke hold, controlled, Cotswold, cuckold, eightfold, enfold, fanfold, fivefold, fool's gold, foothold, fourfold, freehold, gatefold, go gold, green mold, handhold, head cold, household, ice-cold, infold, knock cold, leaf mold, leasehold, make bold, ninefold, old gold, onefold, on hold, pinfold, potholed, roothold, scaffold, sheepfold, sixfold, slime mold, stokehold, stone-cold, stronghold, take hold, tenfold, threefold, threshold, toehold, twice-told, twofold, unfold, unmold, untold, uphold, white gold, whole-souled
WITHHOLD Defined for Kids
withhold
verb with·hold \with-ˈhōld, with-\
with·held \-ˈheld\with·hold·ing
Definition of WITHHOLD for Kids
: to refuse to give, grant, or allow <The teacher withheld permission.>
Learn More About WITHHOLD
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