Synonyms of hold up

hold up 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to postpone

to assign to a later time

held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address

Synonyms & Similar Words

• postpone
• delay
• defer
• put over
• put off
• hold off (on)
• hold over
• lay over
• remit
• wait
• shelve
• hesitate
• suspend
• stretch (out)
• stay
• pause
• slow
• retard
• prolong
• lengthen
• detain
• extend
• protract

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• work (on)
• do
• deal (with)
• act
• decide (upon)

2

as in to stop

to bring (something) to a standstill

traffic was held up for miles by the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• halt
• catch
• stall
• pull up
• check
• stay
• arrest
• draw up
• bring up
• block
• fetch up
• hold back
• hinder
• still
• suspend
• cut off
• hold
• impede
• end
• stem
• obstruct
• turn back
• dam
• snag
• conclude
• detain
• clog
• balk
• terminate
• rein (in)
• suppress
• blockade
• discontinue
• choke off
• bottleneck
• baffle
• call
• repress
• squelch
• stunt
• staunch
• squash
• stanch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep (on)
• carry on
• run on
• continue
• keep up
• persist
• proceed
• move
• go along
• march
• follow through (with)
• advance
• progress
• fare
• push
• stir
• drive
• spur
• propel
• budge
• wend
• actuate
• goad
• impel

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

• hamper
• impede
• hinder
• embarrass
• hold back
• obstruct
• interfere (with)
• tie up
• handicap
• delay
• block
• inhibit
• cramp
• stymie
• cramp one's style
• clog
• shackle
• disrupt
• restrain
• encumber
• give a hard time
• hobble
• handcuff
• fetter
• trammel
• constrain
• short-circuit
• tie
• thwart
• hog-tie
• curb
• check
• brake
• bind
• frustrate
• bog (down)
• manacle
• rein
• retain
• balk
• retard
• stifle
• tether
• leash
• hedge (in)
• hem (in)
• arrest
• choke
• barricade
• chain
• foil
• blockade
• sabotage
• confine
• baffle
• strangle
• halter
• derail
• stump
• mire
• muzzle
• smother
• roadblock
• suffocate
• repress
• suppress

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• help
• assist
• facilitate
• aid
• make way
• open
• clear
• release
• liberate
• free
• unplug
• promote
• encourage
• loosen
• unclog
• smooth
• unstop
• untie
• further

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• survive
• last
• prevail
• hold out
• keep up
• remain
• continue
• persist
• carry on
• go
• get on
• get along
• get by
• make out
• hold on
• endure
• hang in
• cope
• manage
• run on
• hang on
• bear up
• stretch
• draw out
• persevere
• fare
• linger
• abide

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• run out
• go out
• fail
• give out
• cut out
• die
• stop
• break down
• break
• expire
• peter (out)
• collapse
• run down
• stall
• crash
• fizzle
• conk (out)
• wane

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

• remain
• continue
• last
• hold on
• persist
• run on
• stay
• keep up
• endure
• survive
• stick around
• linger
• bide
• perdure
• abide
• prevail
• carry through
• tarry

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• die
• stop
• pass
• wind up
• end
• close
• finish
• cease
• conclude
• terminate
• die (down)
• expire
• quit
• discontinue
• leave off
• lapse
• desist
• moderate
• subside
• abate
• let up
• wane
• ebb

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

• fly
• stand up
• work
• hold water
• pass
• pass muster
• wash
• play
• get through
• go over
• go down
• take
• go through

holdup

2 of 2

noun

ˈhōld-ˌəp 

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

• delay
• wait
• detention
• postponement
• setback
• deferral
• holdback
• deferment
• holding pattern
• pause
• slowdown
• lag
• detainment
• hesitation
• respite
• foot-dragging
• reprieve

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rush
• haste
• dispatch
• promptness
• promptitude

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hold up

Verb

Other photos included in the post showcased her daughters visiting the 9/11 memorial, attempting to pose for a picture holding up the Statue of Liberty and attending MJ: The Musical on Broadway. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025

In between the two murders, police say Ragan held up a Liberty City convenience store, a North Miami hamburger joint and a Northwest Miami-Dade dollar store. —Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2025

Noun

Projects could get more expensive, or face holdups, if an escalating trade war ends up disrupting supply chains. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2025

There was no explanation this week for the nearly three-year delay in approving a formal agreement, though a source familiar with the situation said the holdup came from Washington. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025