How to Say "to withhold" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to withhold” is “retener” — B2 level.
English → SpanishB2
verbB2formal
deducting money/taxes
Examples
La empresa retiene los impuestos de mi nómina.
The company withholds taxes from my payroll.
La policía retuvo al sospechoso para interrogarlo.
The police detained the suspect for questioning.
Algunas medicinas pueden hacer que el cuerpo retenga líquidos.
Some medicines can cause the body to retain fluids.
Formal Contexts
In legal or financial contexts, the action is usually done by an authority (bank, police, government) to a person or their property.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.