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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
    "hold back the growth of communism in South East Asia";
    - check, turn back, arrest, stop, contain
     
  2. Refrain from doing
    "she held back a snicker";
    - forbear
     
  3. Delay acting
    "the scientists held back announcing their results until they repeated the experiment";
    - wait, hold off
     
  4. Secure and keep for possible future use or application
    "The landlord held back the security deposit";
    - retain, hold, keep back
     
  5. Hold back; keep from being perceived by others
    "She holds back her anger well";
    - conceal, hold in, disguise
     
  6. Prevent the action or expression of
    "hold back your anger";
    - restrain, keep, keep back

Derived forms: holding back, held back, holds back

See also: hold on

Type of: act, defend, forbear, hold on, keep, move, refrain