What does withhold mean?
Withhold means to keep something back or to refuse to give, reveal, or allow it. A person or organization may withhold information, payment, consent, evidence, assistance, or access. The verb is especially common in formal and professional settings, where it often suggests that something has been deliberately kept from another person: a company may withhold payment, or a government may withhold a report. Its structure can be expressed as 'withhold something' or 'withhold something from someone.' The word often carries a serious or slightly negative connotation because withholding can involve secrecy, refusal, or delay, although the context determines whether the act is justified. Derived from the older elements meaning 'back' or 'against' and 'hold,' the word has long conveyed the basic image of keeping something out of reach rather than giving it away.
verbTo refuse to give, reveal, or allow something; to keep something back. It is often used in formal contexts involving information, payment, consent, evidence, or assistance.
- To refuse to give, provide, or allow something.
- To keep information, assistance, or access from someone.
- To prevent something from being given, revealed, or granted.
"The company withheld payment until the work had been completed."
"The government withheld the report until the investigation was complete."
"She withheld her consent, leaving the agreement unsigned."
Withhold literally means 'hold back': it describes keeping back information, payment, consent, or even light.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of withhold
Withhold is a Middle English formation combining the prefix with- and the verb hold, giving it the basic sense of 'hold back.' The prefix contributed the idea of separation or opposition, while hold supplied the sense of keeping something in one's grasp. The verb developed into specialized formal uses for withholding payment, information, consent, and other benefits, while related forms such as uphold preserve the older root meaning of supporting or keeping.
Related word forms
How withhold is actually used
Withhold is generally formal and commonly takes the pattern 'withhold something from someone.' It is especially frequent in legal, business, governmental, and financial contexts.
Easily confused with withhold
Withhold means to keep something back or refuse to give it, whereas withstand means to resist or withstand an effect.