1
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held up
Verb
-
It was originally supposed to go into effect in 2008, but has been repeatedly postponed, including during the pandemic.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
12 Apr. 2025 -
The King and Queen were due to meet with Pope Francis as part of their Italian tour, however, Buckingham Palace announced on March 25 that the meeting had been postponed by mutual agreement due to the Catholic leader’s ongoing health concerns.—
Alina Trabattoni,
People.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In the first day or so after the snow stopped falling, Unified Government crews focused on clearing major thoroughfares.—
Alecia Taylor,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2025
-
That was why the tractor had stopped.—
Peter Ross,
Smithsonian Magazine,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The Dodgers survived in spite of their pitching injuries last season and will take a similar approach of going with upside over durability with some of their pitching choices.—
Fabian Ardaya,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
-
In addition to his wife, Cohen is survived by children Benjamin, Gabriel and Lily Cohen.—
Christie D’Zurilla,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Since researchers began excavating and studying Stonehenge in the 17th century, the structure’s purpose has remained a mystery.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Yet Dylan remained deeply ambivalent about being absorbed into any kind of movement.—
Grant Wong,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
After an impressive 380-day reign as the Women's World Champion, her momentum was abruptly halted in April 2024 when an injury, courtesy of Liv Morgan, forced her to relinquish the title.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Liverpool also haven’t won a penalty in four games, which has halted him in his tracks of recording the most prolific Premier League season ever for goal involvements (Salah has scored all nine of the penalties Liverpool have won, the most in the Premier League).—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The provision was ratified in the late nineteen-eighties, but conservatives allied with the country’s agricultural lobby have long impeded its enforcement.—
Julian Lucas,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Poor governance and economic stewardship have impeded the region’s development and generated the grievances behind the Arab Spring.—
Marwan Muasher,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The second challenge was particularly complex, involving the departure of several top players to a rival circuit and tough negotiations that have lasted almost two years without reaching a final solution.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The meeting lasted an hour and 20 minutes, with Johnson spending most of the time yelling at Kennedy.—
Tevi Troy,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The custom of eating fish on Christmas Eve also continued as a way to maintain a connection with Italy and to honor ancestors, National Geographic said.—
Christine Rousselle,
Fox News,
24 Dec. 2024
-
The pair also continued to perform together.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
24 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Held up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20up. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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