withhold
/wɪðˈhəʊld
/verb (past and past participle withheld /wɪðˈhɛld/) [with object]
1Refuse to give (something that is due to or is desired by another): the name of the dead man is being withheld (as noun withholding) the withholding of consent to treatment...
- Elliott Abrams later pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress.
- Police also questioned the female guide who led the tourists to the show but she refused to give any information and even withheld her name during the interview.
- Starr refused to withhold the doctor's grim prognosis from Ellard.
Synonyms
refuse to give, hold back, keep back, stop;
retain, keep hold of, hold on to;
fail to disclose, hide, conceal, keep secret
informal sit on, keep under one's hat
1.1Suppress or hold back (an emotion or reaction): Elizabeth could no longer withhold her sentiments her mouth clenched as if withholding a cry...
- What Mr. Mendes might be great at is a Batman movie, where withholding emotion is a built in part of the character.
- And that comes off as things like withholding your emotions from other people.
- ‘You don't need to apologize… you didn't know,’ Cael said, not even trying to withhold his own emotions.
Synonyms
suppress, repress, hold back, keep back, fight back, choke back, swallow, control, keep in check, check, restrain, contain, curb
Derivatives
withholder
- ‘We are encouraged by the news of Sony's participation, having historically been one of the more notorious withholders of content,’ said David Lee Smith, an analyst with Dain Rauscher Wessels, in a research report.
- Large withholders need to disclose on the form the total of salary, wages and other payments.
- The deposit of Article 23 income tax is carried out by a withholder not later than the 10th day of the ensuing month
Origin
Middle English: from the prefix with- 'away' + the verb hold1.