Hold back and Make way

Opposite meaning terms

Hold back verb - To create difficulty for the work or activity of.

Usage example: the only thing holding Joe back from joining the swim team is lack of transportation

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Make way is an antonym for hold back.

Make way verb - Get out of the way.

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Hold back is an antonym for make way.

Cite this Source

Make way and Hold back. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/hold_back/make_way

Hold back & Make way. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/hold_back/make_way>.

Make way or Hold back. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/hold_back/make_way.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "hold back" and "make way" have occurred on timeline