Definitions and Examples of withhold, keep, take
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Refuse to give or grant something that is due or desired.
Example
The company decided to withhold bonuses this year due to financial constraints.
Retain possession of something; not give it away or let go.
Example
I decided to keep my old clothes instead of donating them because they still fit me well.
To get or acquire something; not give it away or donate it.
Example
He decided to take the money instead of donating it to charity.
Key Differences: withhold vs keep vs take
- 1Withhold implies a deliberate act of not giving or granting something that is due or desired.
- 2Keep implies retaining possession of something and not giving it away or letting it go.
- 3Take implies acquiring something for oneself and not giving it away or donating it.
Effective Usage of withhold, keep, take
- 1Charitable Giving: Use donate to express your willingness to contribute to a cause or help others in need.
- 2Negotiations: Use withhold to indicate that you are not willing to give or grant something that is due or desired.
- 3Ownership: Use keep to indicate that you want to retain possession of something and not give it away or let it go.
- 4Acquisition: Use take to indicate that you want to acquire something for yourself and not give it away or donate it.
Remember this!
The antonyms of donate have distinct meanings: Withhold implies a deliberate act of not giving or granting something, keep implies retaining possession of something, and take implies acquiring something for oneself. Use these words to express your willingness to contribute to a cause, indicate that you are not willing to give or grant something, retain possession of something, or acquire something for yourself.
