1
as in to postpone
to assign to a later time
held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to hamper
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 to survive
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to remain
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 to fly
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
an argument that won't hold up in court
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
a holdup in construction due to the weather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold up
Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Many financial groups continue to report that spending is largely holding up.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
Nate wants to keep Polly safe, but that also means introducing her to the darker side of his world, teaching her how to defend herself and enlisting her aid in a convenience-store holdup.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
Also included is a Kydex sheath that can hold up to constant wear and tear, making this knife just as good for everyday carry.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Many financial groups continue to report that spending is largely holding up.
—Rob Wile, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
The slain suspect, Lahione Soto, is suspected in a string of nearby holdups in the minutes leading up to the shooting, police sources said.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
Nate wants to keep Polly safe, but that also means introducing her to the darker side of his world, teaching her how to defend herself and enlisting her aid in a convenience-store holdup.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
If the high court agrees to review the case, any potential retrial could be postponed indefinitely.—
Adeola Adeosun
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The question of whether to postpone or proceed with matches has been an increasingly fraught issue this season, and is not limited to medical emergencies involving individual players.—
Tamerra Griffin,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nothing better than putting down the top and driving beautiful roads just after the rain stops and the air is powerfully charged by the nearby ocean, scrubbed clean.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, water levels at Lake Powell, one of the main water storage reservoirs for the Colorado River Basin, could fall low enough to stop hydropower generation at the reservoir by December 2026, according to the NOAA report.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, the two-time WNBA MVP looked hampered by the injury, scoring just six points in 20 minutes on the court.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The bill on Wednesday night survived a procedural vote on party lines.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The program also extends support to certain surviving family members, including spouses, dependent children, and even parents of deceased service members.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The takeover remains widely unpopular among Washington residents – some 80% oppose it, according to a Washington Post poll.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Frontier, American are the perennial problem children Frontier Airlines remains stuck at the bottom for the third straight year.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Heading into spring break this year, airlines were flying fewer seats than in the previous spring, and the downward trend continues.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Passengers wanting to fly the MJ500 regional aircraft will need some patience.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Outdated or missing beneficiary designations are common and can lead to delays, unintended distributions or even disputes among heirs.—
Larry Light,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Reuters — The United Nations Security Council did not adopt a draft resolution on Friday to permanently lift sanctions on Iran, but Tehran and key European powers still have eight days to try and agree to a delay.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wisconsin joins 14 other states, including Minnesota and Illinois, in creating a vaccine protocol that does not defer solely to federal health officials.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Buffett’s buy-and-hold approach not only compounds wealth but also defers taxes, allowing more capital to keep working year after year.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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