held over; holding over; holds over
: to continue (as in office) for a prolonged period
2
: to prolong the engagement of
the film was held over another week
Synonyms
Examples of holdover in a Sentence
Noun
He is the only holdover from their last championship team.
This policy is a holdover from the previous administration.
Verb
the golf tournament had to be held over until the line of thunderstorms had passed through
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2014
Matthews belongs but is likely more of a practice-squad holdover.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2024
Washington Post, 19 June 2024
Cogan also detailed the parties’ conflicting takes on the high degree of control MLS allegedly held over U.S. Soccer’s Board.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for holdover 
Noun
Within days, however, Congo’s troops mutinied against their all-white officer corps (a holdover from the colonial era) and started terrorizing the European population.
—Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2014
Matthews belongs but is likely more of a practice-squad holdover.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2024
Verb
In the elections soon after, Hamas, campaigning as the Change and Reform Party, defeated the ruling Fatah party and then consolidated its hold over Gaza with force.
—Washington Post, 19 June 2024
Cogan also detailed the parties’ conflicting takes on the high degree of control MLS allegedly held over U.S. Soccer’s Board.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for holdover
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holdover.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near holdover
Cite this Entry
“Holdover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holdover. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
hold over
intransitive verb
: to remain in a position or condition
one who holds over in possession of a building after the expiration of a term of years—B. N. Cardozo
B. N. Cardozo
holdover
noun
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