withhold

withhold — verb

1. to decide not to give or allow something that someone expects or has a right to

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to decide not to give or allow something that someone expects or has a right to receive

例句

Kemi's supervisor withheld important information from her about the project changes.

withhold + information + from + person

The school board voted to withhold funding from programs that missed the new standards.

同義詞
  • keep back

    more informal; can be physical or informational ('She kept back the details')

  • deny

    stronger and more active rejection; 'deny' can also mean refusing to admit something is true

  • refuse

    broader meaning; does not necessarily imply holding back something expected

反義詞
  • give

    straightforward opposite — to hand over or allow

  • provide

    suggests supplying something needed or expected

文法句型

withhold + noun (object) + from + noun/person

用法筆記

Object is typically something intangible (information, truth, permission) or a right or benefit (funding, support, approval). The person affected is introduced by 'from'.

常見錯誤

❌She withholded the truth from her parents.
✅She withheld the truth from her parents.
💡'withhold' has an irregular past form 'withheld', not 'withholded'.
❌He withheld from eating junk food.
✅He refrained from eating junk food.
💡'withhold' means refusing to give something TO someone, not stopping yourself from doing something.

2. to take part of someone's earnings or payment before they receive it, especially

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to take part of someone's earnings or payment before they receive it, especially for tax or legal purposes

例句

The employer must withhold income tax from each employee's monthly pay.

withhold + tax + from + salary

Rodrigo saw a small amount withheld from his paycheck for health insurance.

同義詞
  • deduct

    more neutral and technical; does not carry the idea of 'keeping back' — just subtracting

  • take out

    informal alternative; 'The government takes out tax before you get your pay'

反義詞
  • pay out

    release payment in full

  • release

    stop holding back; let the full amount reach the recipient

文法句型

withhold + amount/tax + from + payment/salary

be withheld from + payment/salary

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive voice. The subject is usually an employer, institution, or government body. The object is a specific sum, percentage, or type of deduction (tax, fee, portion).

常見錯誤

❌The company withheld tax for the government.' (imprecise)
✅The company withheld tax from the employee's pay.
💡'withhold' requires specifying what is taken out, and 'from' shows the source.
❌The bank withheld my account.
✅The bank deducted a fee from my account.
💡'withhold' is about keeping back a payment, not removing money from an account.