holdup

noun

hold·up | \ˈhōld-ˌəp

Definition of holdup

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : delay

2 : a robbery carried out at gunpoint

hold up

verb

Definition of hold up (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to rob at gunpoint

2 : delay, impede

3 : to call attention to : single out his work was held up to ridicule hold this up as perfection — The Times Literary Supplement (London)

intransitive verb

: to continue in the same condition without failing or losing effectiveness or force she's holding up under the strain music that holds up twenty years later

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about holdup

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Examples of holdup in a Sentence

Noun

There have been a series of holdups at local banks. a holdup in construction due to the weather

Verb

held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address traffic was held up for miles by the accident

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Scott's arrest comes more than a month after his alleged accomplice in many of the robberies, 19-year-old Ernest Thomas, was shot by a customer during an April 19 holdup at a Waffle House on Elysian Fields Avenue. — Laura Mcknight, NOLA.com, "2nd man arrested in string of robberies at New Orleans restaurants," 23 May 2018 Subway worker hit in head during armed holdup; suspects sought Authorities are asking for the public's help identifying two gunmen who robbed a Midfield restaurant. — Carol Robinson, AL.com, "Firefighters battle 3-alarm fire at downtown Birmingham's Parkside Apartments," 17 Jan. 2018 Anyone with information about the robber or holdup is asked to call Trooper O’Connell at the Troop F barracks in Westbrook, 860-399-2100. — Christine Dempsey, courant.com, "State Police: Robber Sought After Knifepoint Holdup In Durham," 8 Jan. 2018 Crawford set the same amount for the alleged accomplice, Trinity Arvin Keara Jones, 18, who is only charged with Taylor in the Poway holdup. — Neal Putnam, Ramona Sentinel, "Bank robbery suspect, accomplice plead not guilty," 11 July 2018 The holdup in filling his job could be finding someone willing to give up total power in making decisions. — Keith Pompey, Philly.com, "Sixers taking their time to find the right GM," 9 July 2018 Cameron Love, 20, entered a guilty plea to aggravated robbery Tuesday in DuPage County court for the July 20, 2017 armed holdup of a 7-Eleven store on South Villa Avenue. — Clifford Ward, Daily Southtown, "Dropped lottery ticket during Villa Park holdup leads to 15-year prison term for Blue Island man," 26 June 2018 The latest holdup in the project occurred in February when a $117-million contract with the firm selected to clean lead from the worst-polluted 2,500 properties fell through. — Ben Poston, latimes.com, "The Exide plant in Vernon closed 3 years ago. The vast majority of lead-contaminated properties remain uncleaned," 26 Apr. 2018 While there is no precise accounting of their crimes, police have estimated the gang participated in at least 100 holdups in the 1970s and ’80s, getting away with about $15 million. — Ian Austen, BostonGlobe.com, "Stephen Reid, gentleman bank robber turned writer, dies at 68," 20 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The Senate Leadership Fund ad says Bredesen holds up to $1 million in Johnson & Johnson stock, and the company and its subsidiaries have faced lawsuits over its opioids. — Jonathan Mattise, The Seattle Times, "Ex-DEA official says Blackburn had warning on opioid law," 26 Oct. 2018 Right now, the PlasticRoad is still in the testing phase to see how the material holds up over extended use. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "The Netherlands is testing a bike lane made from recycled plastic," 24 Sep. 2018 In 2011, Sarah Zielinski at Smithsonian.com reported that chemists were looking into how the 100-year-old paint was holding up. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "X-Rays Show That Van Gogh’s Sunflowers Will One Day Wilt," 1 June 2018 Friend's team wasn't even sure that the Arktek itself would hold up at the lower temperature, much less the plastic trays used to hold the vaccine. — Adam Rogers, WIRED, "The Wild Logistical Ride of the Ebola Vaccine's High-Tech Thermos," 29 May 2018 If the indictments hold up, then the attempts by Trump and Stone to suggest non-Russian sources for the hacking can be dismissed. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, "New indictments complicate the Trump-Russia relationship.," 13 July 2018 The status of Thomas’ hip will remain a question until there is a clear answer, but this could be a good basketball fit if his body holds up. — Sam Amick, USA TODAY, "Isaiah Thomas has no choice but to be a sixth man after joining Nuggets on one-year deal," 13 July 2018 Last week, members of a right-wing group gathered on a hilltop overlooking the village and demonstrated in favor of the demolition, holding up Israeli flags. — Loveday Morris, Washington Post, "As Israeli bulldozers circle, a tiny village takes center stage in Palestinian struggle," 11 July 2018 Donzelli said, holding up the glass chunk, which probably was once a bowl, with forks it in. — Kevin Fagan, SFChronicle.com, "Wine Country artists find new life, inspiration in the wreckage of studios," 9 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'holdup.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.