withheld

Definition

1. Verb (past tense and past participle of withhold):
   • Refused to give or grant: "withheld" means to have deliberately not provided something that is expected, requested, or due.
   • Kept back or held back: It can also mean to have prevented something from being known, released, or used.

Usage Examples

• (Refused to give the full payment.)
• (Kept back the truth deliberately.)
• (Refused to release information.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have withheld judgment": to have deliberately not formed or expressed an opinion.

  • The jury withheld judgment until all evidence was presented. (The jury postponed making a decision.)

• "to be withheld from circulation": to be kept from being distributed or made public.

  • The book was withheld from circulation due to controversial content. (The book was not released for public access.)

Variants and Related Words

• Withhold (verb, base form): to refuse to give or to keep back.

  • He decided to withhold his support. (He refused to provide support.)

• Withholding (noun): the act of keeping back or refusing to give.

  • Tax withholding is a common practice for employers. (The act of deducting tax from wages.)

Synonyms

• Refused: declined to give or allow.
• Retained: kept possession of; did not release.
• Suppressed: kept from being known or expressed.

Related Idioms

• Withhold the truth: to deliberately not reveal the full facts.

  • He withheld the truth about his past. (He kept the truth hidden.)

• Withhold one's consent: to refuse to give permission.

  • The parent withheld consent for the field trip. (The parent did not allow it.)