Meaning of withhold in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /wɪθˈhoʊld/

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    UK accent

  1. Verb

    withhold

    Etymology

    Middle English: from the prefix with- ‘away’ + the verb hold

    Definitions

    1. hold back

    Examples

    • « refuse to hand over or share »
    • « The father is withholding the allowance until the son cleans his room »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. retain and refrain from disbursing

    Examples

    • « of payments »
    • « My employer is withholding taxes »

    Derived terms

Famous quotes

  • « In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. »
    Stephen Jay Gould
  • « It is as impossible to withhold education from the receptive mind, as it is impossible to force it upon the unreasoning. »
    Agnes Repplier

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