WordLens

withhold

1 of 1verb
/wɪð.ˈhoʊld/
Forms:withholds,withholding,withheld,withheld
1

to choose not to give or share something

transitive
  • The government withheld certain information for national security reasons.
  • The teacher decided to withhold the exam results until the plagiarism investigation was complete.
  • Employers should not withhold important feedback from their employees.
  • The witness was cautioned not to withhold any crucial details during the investigation.
  • Parents sometimes withhold privileges as a form of discipline for their children.
Synonyms:
2

to subtract a portion of income, typically as taxes, before paying it out

transitive
  • The government requires businesses to withhold income tax from employees' wages.
  • He was surprised to see how much the employer withheld for social security.
  • They withheld 10% of her salary for tax purposes.
  • Your employer is required to withhold federal and state taxes from your paycheck.
  • They withhold a certain percentage of the bonus for tax purposes.
Synonyms: