Synonyms of held up

held up

verb

past tense of hold up

1

as in postponed

to assign to a later time

held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address

Synonyms & Similar Words

• postponed
• delayed
• deferred
• laid over
• held over
• held off (on)
• put off
• put over
• remitted
• suspended
• shelved
• stretched (out)
• paused
• hesitated
• stayed
• waited
• slowed
• retarded
• prolonged
• lengthened
• detained
• extended
• protracted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• worked (on)
• decided (upon)
• did
• dealt (with)
• acted

2

as in stopped

to bring (something) to a standstill

traffic was held up for miles by the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stopped
• halted
• stalled
• caught
• brought up
• arrested
• stayed
• pulled up
• drew up
• checked
• blocked
• held back
• fetched up
• hindered
• stilled
• suspended
• held
• impeded
• obstructed
• stemmed
• ended
• concluded
• cut off
• baffled
• snagged
• balked
• detained
• clogged
• turned back
• terminated
• dammed
• blockaded
• suppressed
• reined (in)
• discontinued
• called
• repressed
• bottlenecked
• stunted
• squashed
• choked off
• squelched
• stanched

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• kept (on)
• carried on
• continued
• kept up
• persisted
• went along
• moved
• proceeded
• ran on
• advanced
• marched
• progressed
• pushed
• followed through (with)
• fared
• drove
• stirred
• propelled
• spurred
• actuated
• impelled
• wended
• goaded
• budged

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hampered
• impeded
• hindered
• embarrassed
• obstructed
• held back
• tied up
• handicapped
• interfered (with)
• inhibited
• stymied
• cramped
• delayed
• blocked
• trammeled
• encumbered
• clogged
• hobbled
• handcuffed
• disrupted
• shackled
• gave a hard time
• short-circuited
• manacled
• restrained
• fettered
• constrained
• tied
• hog-tied
• bound
• thwarted
• cramped one's style
• frustrated
• balked
• retained
• checked
• retarded
• reined
• stifled
• tethered
• curbed
• arrested
• bogged (down)
• braked
• leashed
• baffled
• chained
• barricaded
• confined
• choked
• strangled
• haltered
• mired
• derailed
• hedged (in)
• blockaded
• foiled
• stumped
• hemmed (in)
• sabotaged
• roadblocked
• smothered
• repressed
• suffocated
• muzzled
• suppressed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• helped
• assisted
• opened
• facilitated
• aided
• released
• cleared
• liberated
• made way
• freed
• promoted
• encouraged
• untied
• unplugged
• smoothed
• loosened
• unstopped
• unclogged
• furthered

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• survived
• lasted
• prevailed
• held out
• kept up
• remained
• persisted
• continued
• went
• carried on
• made out
• hung in
• held on
• got on
• managed
• got along
• endured
• drew out
• stretched
• persevered
• got by
• hung on
• coped
• lingered
• ran on
• fared
• bore up
• abided

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• went out
• failed
• gave out
• ran out
• died
• stopped
• petered (out)
• expired
• collapsed
• cut out
• broke
• stalled
• broke down
• crashed
• fizzled
• ran down
• waned
• conked (out)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• remained
• continued
• lasted
• held on
• persisted
• kept up
• stayed
• perdured
• endured
• ran on
• bode
• lingered
• survived
• prevailed
• stuck around
• abided
• carried through
• tarried

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• died
• passed
• stopped
• finished
• closed
• concluded
• ended
• ceased
• expired
• terminated
• lapsed
• discontinued
• died (down)
• wound up
• left off
• quit
• subsided
• desisted
• abated
• let up
• waned
• moderated
• ebbed

6

as in flew

to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval

an argument that won't hold up in court

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flew
• stood up
• worked
• held water
• passed
• passed muster
• washed
• went over
• played
• went through
• went down
• got through
• took

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of held up

At a table with other college students and campus leaders, Keven Guruswamy, a senior psychology major and Seventh-day Adventist, held up a photograph of his collection of Bibles arranged on a shelf. — Kyle Desrosiers-Levine, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

As Lawson’s Racing Bull got held up by Carlos Sainz’ slow Williams in front, Verstappen wanted past in the Red Bull, but both drivers were intransigent, and neither was prepared to yield. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026

In the postgame locker-room celebration, a snippet of which was posted on the Dolphins’ X account, Hafley held up his hands and jumped up and down as his players poured water bottles over him. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026

That heavy weighting has helped power the index for years, but it's turned into a liability lately; the S&P 500 tech sector is down about 7% this month while other sectors have held up. — Deena Zaidi,nick Wells, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

And in the Belgian capital of Brussels, students held up placards and barricaded streets. — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Essayli and other federal officials on Monday held up Shah’s case and the 27 others as proof the state was not enforcing citizenship. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

The offensive line held up Florida’s front had been on its heels against Missouri and South Carolina. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026

After years of being held up as the example, Michael eventually told his brothers about his suitcase scheme. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026