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Added 9 October 2026

withhold

/wɪθˈhəʊld/ verb

In Latin: dētrāhō Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about withhold at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To keep (a physical object that one has obtained) to oneself rather than giving it back to its owner.
The bank withheld her credit card.
To keep (information, assent, etc.) to oneself rather than revealing it.
withhold vital information
To stay back, to refrain.
I’ll withhold from asking about it.

noun

An immoral action or condition (an overt) that has not been disclosed to others; the consciousness of such an action or condition.

Origin

From Middle English withholden. Equivalent to with- + hold.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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