withold

Verb

withhold (third-person singular simple present withholds, present participle withholding, simple past withheld, past participle withheld or (rare, archaic) withholden)

1. (transitive) 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.

   Synonyms:

   retain

2. (transitive) To keep (information, assent, etc.) to oneself rather than revealing it.
   • withhold vital information
3. (intransitive) To stay back, to refrain.
   • I’ll withhold from asking about it.

See all 4 meanings of withhold