Hold back and Open

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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Open is an antonym for hold back.

Open verb - To change from a closed to an open position.

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Hold back is an antonym for open.

Nearby Words: opening, openness, opened, opener

Cite this Source

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

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

Open or Hold back. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/hold_back/open.

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