1
as in postponed
to assign to a later time
held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopped
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
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
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Recent Examples of held up
In a TikTok video shared by the account @costcofinds, content creator Laura Lamb held up the calendar to herself, which is just about as tall as her.
—
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
The defense for Texas has held up its end of the bargain, stopping the run well, allowing one of the lowest rushing yard totals per game in the country.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Tkachuk then held up a Miami hockey jersey after announcing his pick.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
He was dressed in a white tank top, a billowing black organza jacket, and distressed jeans that, in lieu of a belt, were held up by cellophane tape.
—Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
But White Bear Lake’s defensive front held up relatively well for much of the night from there, keeping the Bears in the game.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
His office has, without explanation, held up a data project that CDC scientists say would make the agency’s data more transparent.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
The only odd thing during tonight’s intro at Princess of Wales was that at the end of TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey’s speech, two protesters quietly held up a sign against festival sponsor RBC (Royal Bank of Canada).
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
In one of the photos, Carrigan, who's also a former professional boxer, held up mini pink boxing gloves, indicating that the couple was expecting a baby girl.
—Kayla Grant, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
The defense for Texas has held up its end of the bargain, stopping the run well, allowing one of the lowest rushing yard totals per game in the country.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Tkachuk then held up a Miami hockey jersey after announcing his pick.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
He was dressed in a white tank top, a billowing black organza jacket, and distressed jeans that, in lieu of a belt, were held up by cellophane tape.
—Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
But White Bear Lake’s defensive front held up relatively well for much of the night from there, keeping the Bears in the game.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
His office has, without explanation, held up a data project that CDC scientists say would make the agency’s data more transparent.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
The only odd thing during tonight’s intro at Princess of Wales was that at the end of TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey’s speech, two protesters quietly held up a sign against festival sponsor RBC (Royal Bank of Canada).
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
In one of the photos, Carrigan, who's also a former professional boxer, held up mini pink boxing gloves, indicating that the couple was expecting a baby girl.
—Kayla Grant, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held up
Verb
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For example, under the rule involving SAVE, certain periods during which borrowers postponed their payments would count toward their forgiveness timeline.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Eleanor the Great and Apple TV+ drama The Savant with Jessica Chastain, the latter of which was postponed following the shooting of Charlie Kirk.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nexstar Media Group, one of the ABC affiliates which last week stopped airing Jimmy Kimmel Live!—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Australia stopped stamping most passports in 2012 in favor of electronic immigration records, and New Zealand followed suit in 2016.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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International responses have been further hampered by an uptick in global crises, which ISIS has used to further drive division and recruit among disaffected populations in nearly every corner of the globe.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
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However, the two-time WNBA MVP looked hampered by the injury, scoring just six points in 20 minutes on the court.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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She is survived by her son, Gregory Pendleton, and by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
-
He is survived by his two children, Sabrina Jaglom and Simon Jaglom.—
Carmel Dagan,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 2008, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office reviewed the case in again but investigators made little progress due to the limited physical evidence that remained.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
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Skelley noted one trend that has remained unchanged is that most independents tend to lean either to the left or the right.—
Julia Manchester,
The Hill,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In a Senate Small Business Committee field hearing, Western North Carolina leaders called for reform to the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan programs, saying a bureaucratic and convoluted system delayed recovery.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Sep. 2025
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Also, in 2018, the festival was delayed on the first day and then cancelled on the second day due to lightning and severe weather.—
Gabrielle Chenault,
Nashville Tennessean,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In 2013, benefit verification and card replacements were halted, though applications and address changes were still processed.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
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In February, Niccol announced the layoff of 1,100 employees, and halted hiring for hundreds of open positions.—
Lori Comstock,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Another lottery pick, Leo Carlsson, twice impeded Utah’s progress up the ice.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
23 Sep. 2025
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The implementation of the SCORE Act could be impeded by other types of legal challenges.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Held up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20up. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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