as in keeping up
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in postponing
to assign to a later time
held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in impeding
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
if lack of transportation is the only thing holding you up, I can give you a ride
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in surviving
to continue to operate or to meet one's needs
the air conditioner held up this year, but it's not going to make it through another summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in remaining
to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state
the storm's hurricane-force winds did not hold up once it hit the coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in flying
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
an argument that won't hold up in court
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding up
Ciara McCarthy 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026
Investors will be looking for confirmation that production of its newest chips is on schedule and that long-term customer contracts are holding up, as well as whether increasing capacity from Samsung and SK Hynix starts to threaten the tight supply that has powered Micron's rally.
—Alicia Park, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The long view The expectation of a lower enrollment trend holding up is one of the key factors likely to translate into higher cost estimates as insurers draw up 2027 rates.
—Julie Appleby, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The Home Depot results echo early spring spending data that suggests consumers are still holding up all right — but not evenly.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Barthélémy is beautiful, luminous, committed, and vulnerable — and therefore just about succeeds in holding up Mount Olympus as the only character with interiority across the two-hour running time.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
However, there’s more than wood holding up the Marpole.
—Stefan Ionescu
may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2026
But another federal agency was apparently holding up the revision.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
The photo shows Belichick, wearing a Code Black shirt and hat covered in roses, and Hudson, still sporting her cheerleading uniform, holding up three fingers for the camera.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
Brandsema explained that humans are born with one pool of motor neurons for life, and SMA slowly robs individuals of their motor neurons over time, leaving them with difficulty walking or running, holding up their heads, or even swallowing food and liquid safely.
—Ciara McCarthy 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026
Investors will be looking for confirmation that production of its newest chips is on schedule and that long-term customer contracts are holding up, as well as whether increasing capacity from Samsung and SK Hynix starts to threaten the tight supply that has powered Micron's rally.
—Alicia Park, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The long view The expectation of a lower enrollment trend holding up is one of the key factors likely to translate into higher cost estimates as insurers draw up 2027 rates.
—Julie Appleby, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The Home Depot results echo early spring spending data that suggests consumers are still holding up all right — but not evenly.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Barthélémy is beautiful, luminous, committed, and vulnerable — and therefore just about succeeds in holding up Mount Olympus as the only character with interiority across the two-hour running time.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
However, there’s more than wood holding up the Marpole.
—Stefan Ionescu
may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2026
But another federal agency was apparently holding up the revision.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
The photo shows Belichick, wearing a Code Black shirt and hat covered in roses, and Hudson, still sporting her cheerleading uniform, holding up three fingers for the camera.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding up
Adjective
-
For all of its massive successes, and for all of the fame, money, and love generated by this Broadway juggernaut, 125 years later the biggest lasting impact of Florodora is this spicy and fruity little cocktail, created for one particular girl in a particularly imperious mood.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
13 June 2026
-
Caceres, who’s now in private practice, said the ordeal has had lasting impact on his career.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
There's a real difference between postponing a non-urgent procedure your vet says can wait and ignoring symptoms that signal something serious.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
Indeed, this approach preserved peace in the short term by postponing difficult conversations.—
David H. Rosmarin,
Time,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Fans can also pick up souvenir maps when stopping at the attraction this summer.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
Things to do along the Little Parkway Southern Living recommends stopping at several of the High Country’s most popular attractions, including Grandfather Mountain, where visitors can cross the Mile High Swinging Bridge, explore the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery and access nearby trails.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Protests outside the gates have shown activists pummeling cars, impeding the exits and in some cases getting hurled out of the way after collisions with vehicles attempting to speed away from the violent activists.—
Eric Mack,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
-
Over the years, the number of cars parking near the bridge — often illegally, sometimes impeding emergency vehicles — has risen.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
With its distinctive, hornlike snout and protrudable jaws, the pink-skinned living fossil is the only surviving representative of a family lineage that dates back nearly 125 million years.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
11 June 2026
-
Reaching that age after surviving the Holocaust is nothing short of a miracle.—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Any remaining threats will clear out of the Midwest Thursday and shift into the East.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
Wipe the remaining interior with a wet, non-abrasive sponge to remove any residue, then dry with a clean cloth.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Verb
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After flying overnight from San Antonio back to the Big Apple, Jose Alvarado, also a native New Yorker, took part in a local Puerto Rican Day Parade, and the mayor joined him in the fun.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
Videos circulating online show Eduarda flying through the air, both arms outstretched, in the moments before her death.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
Verb
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If there are no seats, there’ll be no place to put sick passengers and the train will have to stay in the station, delaying the system.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2026
-
From stunting and weakening plant growth to delaying flower production, these 1/10th-inch-long pests can wreak havoc.—
Abby Monteil,
The Spruce,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20up. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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