# withhold

> English word · Verb · IPA /wɪθˈhəʊld/ · frequency rank #20,269

## Definitions
1. To keep (a physical object that one has obtained) to oneself rather than giving it back to its owner.
2. To keep (information, assent etc) to oneself rather than revealing it.
3. To stay back, to refrain.

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

## Easily confused with
- **withheld** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/withheld-vs-withhold)

## Common misspellings (11)
`iwthhold`, `wihthold`, `withhlod`, `withhodl`, `withholdd`, `withholld`, `withohld`, `withold`, `witthhold`, `wtihhold`, `wwithhold`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/withhold