Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb hold_off

2 senses of hold off

Sense 1
hold off -- (resist and fight to a standoff; "Dallas had enough of a lead to hold the Broncos off")
       => resist, hold out, withstand, stand firm -- (stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something)

Sense 2
wait, hold off, hold back -- (wait before acting; "the scientists held off announcing their results until they repeated the experiment")
       => act, move -- (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel")