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hold back

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To stop someone or something from moving forward, or to stop yourself from saying or feeling something.

Literal meaning: To pull or keep something back from moving forward — the physical sense is transparent.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To physically stop someone or something from moving forward or advancing.

"Police held back the crowd as the president's motorcade passed."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To stop yourself from expressing an emotion or saying something, often with effort.

"She held back her tears until she was alone in the car."

"I had to hold back tears during the farewell speech."

— Michelle Obama, Becoming (2018, paraphrased widely in reviews)
Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

To withhold information, details, or the truth from someone.

"The investigation revealed that officials had been holding back crucial evidence."

Grammar: separable
4 B2 idiomatic neutral

To prevent someone or something from developing or making progress.

"Fear of failure is holding back a lot of talented people."

"Nothing is going to hold us back."

— Barack Obama, 2008 Presidential Campaign speech (widely quoted)
Grammar: separable
Usage notes

One of the most versatile 'hold' phrasal verbs. Can refer to physical restraint, emotional suppression, withholding information, impeding progress, or keeping a student back a school year (US education). Very common across all registers.

Commonly used with

tears emotions progress information crowd student feelings

Forms

Base
hold back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
holds back
he/she/it
Past simple
held back
yesterday
Past participle
held back
have + pp
-ing form
holding back
continuous

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Synonyms

check hinder hold in keep back restrain suppress

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