hold back from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'hold back from' is correct and usable in written English.
It means to refrain from doing something or to not allow something to happen. For example: She held back from making a decision until she had all the facts.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I cannot hold back from that!

The New York Times

Government agreed to hold back from legislation.

The Guardian - Tech

Mayo does not hold back from seeking serious leverage.

The Guardian

I don't hold back from sharing this opinion.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Don't hold back from dipping the bread into it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I also hold back from business for another reason: $6000 for a single ticket?

The Economist

He should not hold back from stimulus packages to help America out of recession.

The Economist

But "China wants to hold back from a full-on alliance," Mr. Small said.

The New York Times

The Sun did hold back from publishing stories out of a fear of injunctions, he says.

The Guardian

The U.S. government should hold back from weighing in on the scope of those standards.

The Washington Post

Would all of them be able to hold back from posting hints on social media?

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hold back from", ensure the context clearly indicates what action is being refrained from. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "hold back from" when a stronger term like 'prohibit' or 'prevent' is more appropriate. "Hold back from" implies a degree of self-control or temporary restraint, while other verbs might suggest a more definitive stop.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold back from" functions as a verb phrase indicating restraint or refraining from a particular action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct construction in English. The numerous examples in the search data demonstrate its versatility in expressing conscious decisions to avoid certain behaviors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hold back from" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express restraint or the act of refraining from doing something. As Ludwig AI affirms, it is a common expression in English. It is frequently found in news and media, but also appears in more formal or scientific writing. When using this phrase, it's crucial to ensure the context makes the intended restraint clear to avoid any ambiguity. While alternatives like "refrain from" or "abstain from" exist, "hold back from" provides a nuanced way to express a deliberate choice to avoid a specific action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refrain from

Implies a conscious decision to abstain from doing something.

abstain from

Suggests a more formal or disciplined act of self-restraint.

avoid doing

Focuses on preventing an action or outcome.

desist from

A more formal and less common way of saying to stop doing something.

keep from

Emphasizes the effort required to prevent oneself from doing something.

forbear from

A somewhat archaic term for patiently refraining.

inhibit oneself from

Highlights the internal restraint preventing action.

decline to

Indicates a refusal to participate in something.

shun

Implies deliberately avoiding something or someone.

evade

Suggests skillfully avoiding something, often with a sense of cunning.

FAQs

How can I use "hold back from" in a sentence?

Use "hold back from" to indicate refraining from doing something, like: "She had to hold back from crying during the sad movie."

What are some alternatives to "hold back from"?

You can use alternatives such as "refrain from", "abstain from", or "avoid doing" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "hold back from" or "withhold from"?

"Hold back from" implies a personal restraint or reluctance, while "withhold from" suggests a deliberate act of keeping something from someone. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What does "hold back from" mean?

The phrase "hold back from" means to restrain oneself from doing something, to prevent oneself from acting on an impulse, or to keep something from happening.