holds back
Prevents from advancing
Holds back means to restrain or prevent from advancing.
You might hold back tears, hold back criticism, or hold back a crowd.
Someone who holds back information withholds it deliberately.
A person who holds back in a situation exercises restraint rather than committing fully: She held back from saying what she really thought.
Something that holds you back impedes your progress: Fear of failure holds back many talented people.
- restrainsHolds back or controls
- inhibitTo restrain or hinder
- reins inExerts controlling pressure
- withholdsRefuses to release
- thwartPrevent success of
barrier · curb · bridles · block · suppress · bites tongue · impede · reluctance · stifle · deters · second guesses · clings · staves off · contains · hesitation · doubt · fear · self-consciousness
- slowing downbraking, brakes, crawl, coasts, creep
- repelsrepels, wards off, keeps away, fends off, drives away
holds backreleases
Lets go or publishes
lets go · frees · unleashes · liberates · lets loose
holds backpushes forward
Advances against resistance
advances · propels · encourages · promotes · accelerates
hold, back, held, backing, holder, holding, uphold, backed, withhold