HELD UP Synonyms: 240 Similar and Opposite Words

held up

verb

Definition of held up next

past tense of hold up

as in postponed

to assign to a later time held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stopped

to bring (something) to a standstill traffic was held up for miles by the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hampered

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in survived

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in remained

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in flew

to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval an argument that won't hold up in court

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of held up The ones that made the cut held up throughout a full day, were buildable, and worked on a variety of skin types. —

Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 28 May 2026 Bessent held up a draft of the Post's story while briefing White House reporters on Thursday. —

Deepa Shivaram, NPR, 28 May 2026 During this seemingly very important meeting, however, Altman claimed that Musk held up talks by making everyone look at memes with him. —

Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 14 May 2026 In late 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Administration did agree to fund a $42-million buyout program for about 20 homes ruined by the land movement, but that money remains held up in a long approval process, Mihranian said. —

Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026 The promise held up when Shoemaker, 64, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2021, when he was covered under the military’s health care program, TRICARE. —

Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 May 2026 El Salvadoran referee Ismaael Cornejo held up the restart and checked the finish, eventually deeming Delgado offside on the Palencia cross to give the visitors life. —

Josh Gross, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026 Two unrelated suspects also allegedly held up a bank in Everett. —

Logan Hall, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026 During the restoration process for the gown, the conservators found that the satin had held up well, as had the silver lace along the bottom, according to Hills. —

Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for held up

Verb

Unfortunately, the race never got underway and was postponed until Saturday morning and then again to Saturday night.

— Matt Reigle, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
The May 9 game in Boston, also scheduled to be started by Rasmussen, was postponed and will be played as part of a July 17 doubleheader.

— Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026