Hold back
verb
verb ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To act with reserve; to contain one's full measure or power. idiomatic, intransitive
"Don't hold back. Hit it as hard as you can."
- 2 prevent the action or expression of wordnet
- 3 To contain; stop. idiomatic, transitive
"The dam can't hold back that much water."
- 4 hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of wordnet
- 5 To delay the progress of, especially in school. idiomatic, transitive
"He's a year older than his classmates, because he was held back in second grade."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 hold back; keep from being perceived by others wordnet
- 7 secure and keep for possible future use or application wordnet
- 8 wait before acting wordnet
- 9 refrain from doing wordnet
Example
More examples"Don't hold back. Hit it as hard as you can."