The verb to withhold · Conjugation
Past Simple of withhold
The answer: withheld
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to withhold is withheld.
Example: He withheld the truth.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | withheld |
| You | withheld |
| He / She / It | withheld |
| We | withheld |
| You (pl.) | withheld |
| They | withheld |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Withholded ❌
Withhold → withheld → withheld, like hold → held → held.
2. Withholding tax
This is an important money word: tax taken from your salary before you get paid.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of withhold?+
The Past Simple is withheld. It follows hold → held (withhold = with + hold).
What does withhold information mean?+
Withhold information means to keep information and not share it. It is common in legal texts and in the news.
What is withholding tax?+
Withholding tax is tax taken directly from your salary by your employer. It is a money and tax word, very common in the US.
Is it withhold or hide?+
Withhold = to refuse to give or tell something (on purpose, often legal). Hide = to put out of sight, or to keep secret (more general).
Is it withheld or withholded?+
Withhold = with + hold. It follows the irregular verb hold, so the past is withheld.
Related pages: withhold Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/withhold/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to withhold are coming soon.