withhold

Vocabulary Word

Definition

'Withhold' means to refuse to give or share something. It can also represent holding back feelings or ideas. For instance, you might withhold information in a business deal until the right moment.

Examples in Different Contexts

In finance, to 'withhold' often relates to deductions from income for tax purposes. An accountant might explain, 'Employers are required to withhold a certain amount from employees’ paychecks for federal and state income taxes, ensuring compliance with tax laws.'

Practice Scenarios

Business

Scenario:

Our sales numbers for this quarter are lower than expected. It may affect our upcoming investor meeting.

Response:

Maybe, we should withhold the current sales figures during the investor meeting and focus on the projected growth.

Public-Policy

Scenario:

Releasing the disaster-response details publicly may create unnecessary fear among the citizens. We need to consider our next steps cautiously.

Response:

Right, we should withhold the detailed response plan, presenting just the broad measures to ensure public confidence.