withhold
verb
, wit͟h-\
, wit͟h- \;
withholding
Definition of withhold
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Synonyms & Antonyms for withhold
Synonyms
decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reject, reprobate
Antonyms
allow, concede, grant, let, OK (or okay), permit
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Examples of withhold in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whatever the reason, the decision to withhold flu shots denies human rights, defies international treaties and legal conventions, and is epidemiologically dangerous and dumb. — Wired, "Why Denying Migrants Flu Shots Is a Dangerous, Foolish Move," 28 Aug. 2019 And if that meant antagonizing her withholding father by consulting on the presidential campaign of one of his biggest political enemies, well, that's just a bonus for the Roys' most competent and overlooked scion. — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Who Won the Succession Game of Thrones This Week?," 12 Aug. 2019 Medics took the victim, whose name was withheld, to a hospital for treatment of severe head trauma. — Pomerado News, "Elderly man beaten; Poway resident in custody," 29 July 2019 Their names were withheld pending next-of-kin notification. — Ramona Sentinel, "Man, woman found dead in Borrego Springs home," 18 July 2019 Listen Actively: The lioness is a generous soul, but remember to withhold judgment and have an attentive ear. — Sonja Marie, Essence, "Gemini, Mind Your Money! Here Are June 2019 Horoscopes For All," 6 June 2019 An impeachment inquiry would likely waive the grand jury secrecy requirement that the Trump administration is relying on to withhold release of the full Mueller Report. — Linda Greenhouse, The New York Review of Books, "The Impeachment Question," 30 May 2019 But songs increasingly are utilizing catchy melodies and danceable grooves to imagine a better, more equitable world – or to present this world in the kind of positive light that Trump seems willfully to withhold. — Mikael Wood, kansascity, "KCK’s Janelle Monae and other pop artists shape the new sound of protest music," 6 July 2018 After missing several deadlines and a court date, the city explained in court filings that the Dallas County district attorney’s office had recommended withholding all records until its investigation was closed. — Cary Aspinwall, Dallas News, "Police responded to his 911 call for help. He died. What happened to Tony Timpa?," 2 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'withhold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for withhold
withhold
verbFinancial Definition of withhold
What It Is
Withholding refers to withholding tax, which is an amount that employers withhold from an employee's paycheck and remit to local and federal taxing authorities on behalf of the employee.
How It Works
For example, let's say John Doe's salary is $24,000 a year. Though he makes $2,000 a month, he only brings home $1,800 because his employer takes $200 out of his paycheck and remits it to the state and the federal government on his behalf. The payments go toward John Doe's federal income tax, state income tax, unemployment, and Medicare liabilities.
The amount of withholding is influenced by what John Doe puts on his IRS Form W-4 ("Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate"), which he provides to the employer and on which he indicates how many dependents he has and his marital status, among other things. A copy goes directly to the IRS. Generally, the more allowances the employee claims on a Form W-4, the lower the withholding tax.
Withholding tax applies to income earned through wages, pensions, bonuses, commissions, and gambling winnings. Dividends and capital gains, for example, are not subject to withholding tax. Self-employed people generally don't pay withholding taxes; they typically make quarterly estimated payments instead.
Why It Matters
Withholding tax prevents people from being blindsided by huge tax bills on April 15. By having their employers remit a little out of each paycheck, federal and local governments also ensure steady cash flow throughout the year and reduce the risk that taxpayers will be unable to pay their taxes. A person's tax liability may still be more or less than what he or she pays in withholding taxes in a year. In those cases, the taxpayer may have to pay more money on April 15 or may receive a tax refund. It is important to note that accuracy in payroll is crucial; any mistakes in remitting withholding tax are generally the taxpayer's problem even if they are the employer's fault.
Source: Investing Answers
withhold
verb
English Language Learners Definition of withhold
See the full definition for withhold in the English Language Learners Dictionary
withhold
verb
, wit͟h-\