withhold
gb/wɪθhˈoʊld/ us/wɪθhˈoʊld/
B2
English
~ 9900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
refuse to give something owed
To decide not to give something that someone wants, needs, or should get.
Usage pattern:
to withhold [something] (from [someone])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "withhold" with "hold" or "keep". "Withhold" always involves a decision not to give something to someone, often something expected or owed. It is not used for simply possessing an item (use "have" or "keep" in that case).
Synonyms
deny (Often used when refusing something that is requested or claimed as a right.)
|
refuse (More general; does not always imply the thing is expected or owed.)
|
hold back (Slightly more informal and broader; can suggest emotional hesitation as well as deliberate refusal.)
Antonyms
grant (Focuses on officially or willingly giving what is requested.)
|
provide (Emphasizes supplying something that is needed or expected.)
Collocations
withhold payment
|withhold consent
|withhold support
|withhold benefits
|withhold funding
|withhold affection
Themes
law
|business
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The landlord threatened to evict them if they continued to withhold rent.
- Several countries decided to withhold financial aid until reforms were made.
- He was accused of using his position to withhold promotions from certain employees.
- Parents sometimes withhold affection when they are stressed, even if they do not mean to.
- The company may withhold benefits if you do not work the required number of hours.
Learner examples
- They will withhold your bonus if you are late too many times.
- The school decided to withhold his diploma until he paid the fee.
- She chose to withhold help because he had lied to her.
- My boss can withhold my pay if I do not finish the work.
- The bank may withhold the money until next week.
Verb
C1
action
2
deliberately not reveal information
To decide not to share information or facts that people expect or should know.
Usage pattern:
to withhold [information/details/evidence] (from [someone])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "hide" instead of "withhold" for information. "Hide" focuses on making something hard to see or find, while "withhold" focuses on the decision not to share information that could be told or shown.
Synonyms
conceal (Stronger sense of hiding; often used in legal or serious contexts.)
|
suppress (Often used when information is actively kept from becoming known to the public.)
|
keep back (More informal and slightly softer; suggests not saying everything.)
Antonyms
disclose (Common in formal and legal contexts for officially making information known.)
|
reveal (General word for making hidden or unknown information known.)
Collocations
withhold information
|withhold evidence
|withhold details
|withhold data
|withhold records
|withhold disclosure
Themes
communication
|law
|politics
Examples
- The company was fined for withholding safety information from its customers.
- He admitted that he had withheld key evidence during the investigation.
- Officials were accused of withholding data about the environmental impact of the project.
- She chose to withhold some personal details from the report to protect her privacy.
- Doctors must not withhold important information about a patient's condition.
Learner examples
- The police say he is withholding information about the crime.
- The manager did not want to withhold any facts from the team.
- She felt it was wrong to withhold the truth from her parents.
- The report shows that the company withheld data from the public.
- He was angry because his friend had withheld important news.
Verb
formal
C1
action
3
refrain from expressing judgment or comment
To choose not to give your opinion or decision yet, usually because you want more information first.
Usage pattern:
to withhold [judgment/comment/criticism] (until [time])
Common mistake:
Learners may say *"hold the judgment"* or *"keep the judgment"* instead of "withhold judgment" or "reserve judgment." In this expression, "withhold" or "reserve" is the natural verb in formal and neutral English.
Synonyms
refrain (General word for stopping yourself from doing something you could do.)
|
reserve judgment (Very close in meaning; fixed phrase especially in formal contexts.)
|
delay (Focuses on doing something later, not necessarily holding it back on purpose for evaluation.)
Antonyms
offer (As in 'offer an opinion'; focuses on giving your view freely.)
|
express (Means to state or show an opinion or feeling openly.)
Collocations
withhold judgment
|withhold judgement
|withhold comment
|withhold criticism
Themes
thinking
|communication
Examples
- I will withhold judgment until I have heard both sides of the story.
- The committee chose to withhold comment until the investigation is complete.
- Critics initially withheld criticism, waiting to see how the policy would work in practice.
- She decided to withhold judgment about her new boss until she had worked with him longer.
- For now, the company is withholding comment on the merger rumors.
Learner examples
- Let’s withhold judgment until we see the final result.
- The teacher said she would withhold comment until she read all the essays.
- He tried to withhold criticism because his friend was already upset.
- I will withhold my opinion until I know more.
- They chose to withhold comment on the news.
Verb
technical
C1
action
4
deduct tax or fees from pay
To keep part of someone’s pay, usually for tax or other official payments, before giving them the rest.
Usage pattern:
to withhold [tax/fees/contributions] from [someone]'s pay
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "withhold tax" means **not** paying tax. In this context, it means the employer or payer takes tax out of your money and sends it to the government for you.
Synonyms
deduct (General technical term for subtracting an amount, especially in finance.)
|
retain (Formal; emphasizes keeping part of the money rather than passing it on.)
|
take out (Informal phrasing for removing part of a sum of money.)
Antonyms
pay out (Focuses on giving the full amount of money without deduction.)
|
remit (In finance, to send payment, especially money owed such as taxes.)
Collocations
withhold tax
|withhold income tax
|withhold a percentage
|withhold contributions
|withhold at source
|withhold from wages
Themes
business
|finance
|law
|work
Examples
- Employers are required to withhold income tax from employees’ wages.
- The company will withhold a small percentage of your pay for retirement contributions.
- If we fail to withhold the correct amount of tax, the organization may face penalties.
- Under the new law, banks must withhold tax on interest payments to non-residents.
- They agreed to withhold union dues directly from workers’ salaries.
Learner examples
- My employer withholds tax from my paycheck every month.
- The company will withhold ten percent for social security.
- The law says the bank must withhold tax on this money.
- They did not withhold enough tax last year.
- Your boss may withhold fees from your pay.
Grammar
Dictionary form
withhold
IPA
GB/wɪθhˈoʊld/
US/wɪθhˈoʊld/
Syllables & stress
with - hold (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (hold)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: withhold
- 3rd Person Singular: withholds
- Present Participle: withholding
- Past: withheld
- Past Participle: withheld
Word family
Forms
withholds
verb
withholding
verb
withheld
verb
Advanced or less common
withholder
noun
Highlights
- Irregular past: withheld Verb
- Irregular past participle: withheld Verb
Expressions
withhold approval
1/wɪθhˈoʊld əpɹˈuvəl/
fixed phrase
formal
refuse to approve something
To decide not to officially say yes to a plan, idea, or request.
Examples
- The committee voted to withhold approval until the budget was revised.
- Regulators may withhold approval if safety standards are not met.
withhold comment
1/wɪθhˈoʊld kˈɑmɛnt/
fixed phrase
formal
refuse to make a statement
To say that you will not give any opinion or information about a question or problem.
Examples
- The company declined to answer questions and chose to withhold comment.
- At this stage, the minister will withhold comment on the ongoing investigation.
withhold consent
1/wɪθhˈoʊld kənsˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
formal
refuse to give permission
To officially or clearly say that you do not give permission for something.
Examples
- The board decided to withhold consent for the proposed takeover.
- Parents may withhold consent if they are not happy with the school trip plans.
withhold information
1/wɪθhˈoʊld ˌɪnfɔɹmˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
deliberately not share information
To choose not to give information that others expect or should know.
Examples
- The government was accused of trying to withhold information from the public.
- It is illegal to withhold information that could protect someone’s safety.
withhold judgment
1/wɪθhˈoʊld d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
delay giving your opinion
To wait before saying what you think about something, usually until you know more.
Examples
- Let’s withhold judgment until we see how the changes work in practice.
- I’m going to withhold judgment until I talk to both of them.
withhold payment
1/wɪθhˈoʊld pˈeɪmənt/
fixed phrase
refuse to make a payment
To decide not to pay money that you normally would or should pay, often as a protest or because of a problem.
Examples
- The client threatened to withhold payment until the work was finished properly.
- You may withhold payment if the service does not meet the agreed standard.
withhold support
1/wɪθhˈoʊld səpˈɔɹt/
fixed phrase
refuse to support something
To choose not to help or not to agree with a plan, person, or idea.
Examples
- Several key senators chose to withhold support for the bill.
- Voters may withhold support if they feel their concerns are ignored.
withhold tax
1/wɪθhˈoʊld tˈæks/
fixed phrase
technical
deduct tax before paying someone
To take tax out of someone’s pay or money before they receive it, and send that tax to the government.
Examples
- Employers are legally required to withhold tax from employees’ salaries.
- The bank will automatically withhold tax on any interest you earn.