hole up

verb

holed up; holing up; holes up

intransitive verb

: to hide out in or as if in a hole or cave

transitive verb

: to place in or as if in a refuge or hiding place

Examples of hole up in a Sentence

we'll hole up in the cellar and wait out the hurricane
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One Battle follows another ex-revolutionary (Leonardo DiCaprio), now holed up outside a fictional Northern California town and almost perpetually drunk or high, but otherwise doting on his teenage daughter (newcomer Chase Infiniti). Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 24 Sep. 2025 When deputies arrived, Appolon ran to the third floor and holed up inside a bedroom, Grossman said. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025 Amir and Miri share their memories of holing up in a lightless, airless concrete room with two children under the age of 5, trying desperately to remain quiet. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025 Now teens were holing up in garages across America in an attempt to create their own versions of the Fab Four. Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hole up

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of hole up was in 1875

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hole up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hole%20up. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

hole up

verb
: to take shelter in or as if in a hole or cave
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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