Advertisement
English Lexicon

Hold-back

/ˈhoʊld.bæk/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #8500 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A hindrance, restriction, or obstacle that prevents progress or development.

    "A lack of funding was the main hold-back for the new startup project."
  2. 2

    A mental reservation, hesitation, or reluctance to act or express oneself fully.

    "She spoke with absolute honesty and no hold-back regarding her concerns."
Advertisement

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the phrasal verb 'hold back', originating from Middle English roots combining Old English 'healdan' (to keep, guard) and Old Norse 'bakR' (back). The noun form emerged in the 19th century to denote an obstacle, reservation, or restraint that impedes progress.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Hold-back"?

Advertisement
Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Hold-back"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Hold-back" Synonym Map
Advertisement