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Verb: hold back  hówld bak
  1. Hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of
    - check, turn back, arrest, stop, contain
     
  2. Keep under control; keep in check
    - restrain, keep, keep back
     
  3. Refrain from doing
    - forbear
     
  4. Wait before acting
    - wait, hold off
     
  5. Secure and keep for possible future use or application
    - retain, hold, keep back
     
  6. Hold back; keep from being perceived by others
    - conceal, hold in

Derived forms: holds back, holding back, held back

See also: hold

Type of: act, bottle up, defend, forbear, hold on, inhibit, keep, move, refrain, suppress