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
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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
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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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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
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6
as in to fly
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
an argument that won't hold up in court
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as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
a holdup in construction due to the weather
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold up
Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 26 May 2026
For the longest time after Earnhardt’s sudden death in 2001, on every Lap 3 at NASCAR tracks around the country, fans went silent and held up three fingers in memory of Earnhardt’s car number.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2026
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The most recent holdup appears to largely stem from internal divisions in the House.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
The cooler has a 45 liter capacity and can hold up to 67 12-ounce cans.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 26 May 2026
For the longest time after Earnhardt’s sudden death in 2001, on every Lap 3 at NASCAR tracks around the country, fans went silent and held up three fingers in memory of Earnhardt’s car number.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2026
Noun
His gang reportedly was involved in at least 20 murders, 100 holdups and 150 burglaries.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The most recent holdup appears to largely stem from internal divisions in the House.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
This year, the festival continued but took a blow, with officials postponing the Strawberry Stomp 5K and parade, which usually showcases community spirit and guest celebrities.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
24 May 2026
-
Despite the overwhelming sense of sadness at the track, NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell never considered postponing the race.—
Steve Reed,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Blackwood made two highlight-reel saves during a Vegas power play and stopped multiple mini-breakaways in the middle period as well.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
-
Don't let a lack of sunshine stop you from enjoying a bountiful harvest of vegetables that grow in the shade.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
New vaccines had been developed to reduce the risk of death from COVID-19, and experts worried that anxiety over needle sticks would hamper uptake.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2026
-
Rescuers at the scene have detailed on social media the challenging mountainous terrain and heavy rain that is hampering the operation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Thermal readings taken from the volcanic holes suggested that the temperature inside wasn't changing as drastically as the surface, exciting hopes that humans could one day within, and even the idea that life native to Mars had survived inside.—
Tom Brown,
Space.com,
25 May 2026
-
Smaller, open boats and high-performance power boats with low freeboards have the best chance of surviving a storm if taken out of the water, according to the Boat Owners Association of The United States.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
But the long-term threat to critical HIV/AIDS programming remains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
Severe Pruning Pruning tomato plants can be helpful in promoting air flow and fruit production, but removing too many leaves at one time can cause the plant to protect its remaining leaves by curling them in response.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
After squeezing the game’s final out, first baseman Leyton MacPherson casually flipped the ball in the air, joined her teammate in a sprint toward Spangler, and gloves began flying.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
By April and May, the winter bugs will transform into flying insects and begin to mate before dying in two or three days.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Sanfilippo is a fatal pediatric neurodegenerative disorder, with each delay in treatment equaling permanent neurological decline.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Artemis program Due to the Mark 1 issues outlined above, there will either be significant delays to, or the need to restructure the early phases of, the Moon Base program.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
In the early development of the internet, security was deferred.—
Joern Hackbarth,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
The Oceanside Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend the Oceanside City Council approve an ordinance to exclude the provisions of SB 79 at some sites and defer implementation at others, as allowed by the law.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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