holdup

1 of 2

noun

hold·​up ˈhōld-ˌəp 

variants or hold-up

plural holdups or hold-ups

1

: delay

There was a holdup with my order.

What's the holdup? [=what is the reason for the delay?]

2

: a robbery carried out at gunpoint

hold up

2 of 2

verb

held up; holding up; holds up

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 of holdup

Noun

• delay
• wait

Verb

• postpone
• delay
• defer
• put over

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

But there are some potential holdups. —Alec Lewis, New York Times, 6 May 2026

Police have also charged 32-year-old Guardy Roman in connection with two of the holdups reported last fall. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026

Verb

Heat can shrink fabrics, fade colors and weaken elastic fibers, which shortens the life of garments that would otherwise hold up for years. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026

Consumer spending also has held up, though it's largely been pushed by higher-income earners and the general trend higher in prices. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1851, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for holdup

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup
• pickup

Kids Definition

holdup

1 of 2 noun

hold·​up

1

: a robbery at gunpoint

2

: delay entry 1 sense 1

hold up

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)hōl-ˈdəp

1

: delay entry 2 sense 2, impede

2

: to rob at gunpoint

3

: to continue without failing or losing effectiveness

holding up under the stress

music that holds up twenty years later

Legal Definition

holdup

1 of 2 noun

hold·​up

: an attempted or completed robbery carried out with the use of force and especially at gunpoint

hold up

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to make the victim of a holdup : rob at gunpoint