hold back (B1)
phrasal verb
Pronunciation: /hoʊld bæk/
Definition
To restrain oneself from expressing an emotion or to prevent someone or something from moving forward.
Examples
He tried to hold back his tears during the sad movie.
The police used barriers to hold back the surging crowd.
Don't hold back your true feelings if you want to resolve this conflict.
How to Use hold back
- hold back from (phrasal verb)
- to refrain from doing something — "She held back from signing the contract until she read the fine print."
- hold back [something] (phrasal verb)
- to keep information or emotions hidden — "He is holding back crucial details about the accident."
Synonyms of hold back
Words with a similar meaning to hold back:
Antonyms of hold back
Words with the opposite meaning to hold back:
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