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

With holdups at home, investors are exploring buildouts abroad, including in the energy-rich Gulf states. —Jared Cohen, Time, 18 Feb. 2026

But the reality is election-year politics and a funding holdup by Democrats and a small number of Republicans are perhaps responsible for bringing us to this point. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

Verb

Ukraine’s frontline defenses have held up – but only just. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026

The Canadians struck with a shorthanded goal from Kristin O’Neill early in the second period, and that held up until Knight deflected a shot from the point by Laila Edwards to tie the score. —Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 19 Feb. 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