1. A refusal by a negotiator to come to terms in the hope of obtaining a better deal
   "The player's holdout for a higher salary lasted several weeks"
    
2. A negotiator who hopes to gain concessions by refusing to come to terms
   "their star pitcher was a holdout for six weeks"
    
3. The act of hiding playing cards in a gambling game so they are available for personal use later
   "The casino caught the player's holdout and banned him for life"

1. Last and be usable
   "This dress held out well for almost ten years";
   - wear, endure
    
2. Stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something
   "The fortress held out against the siege";
   - resist, withstand, stand firm, dispute [archaic]
    
3. Continue to live and avoid dying
   "Despite his illness, he held out for several more months";
   - survive, last, live, live on, go, endure, hold up
    
4. Wait uncompromisingly for something desirable
   "He held out for the dessert and did not touch the cheeses"
    
5. Thrust or extend out
   "He held out his hand";
   - exsert, stretch out, put out, extend, stretch forth

Derived forms: holdouts, holds out, holding out, held out

Type of: bargaining, cheat, continue, defend, dispute, endure, fight, fight back, fight down, fraud, gesticulate, gesture, go along, go on, hold back, hold off, keep, last, motion, negotiant, negotiator, oppose, proceed, rig [archaic], swindle, treater, wait

Antonym: give up

Encyclopedia: Holdout