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
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Recent Examples of held up
Experimental drugs that could help them are being held up while their disorder progresses daily, their dad said.
—
Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Users have confirmed the easy-to-maintain material has held up after multiple trips through the washer and dryer with no pilling.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
American shoppers have held up well since the end of the pandemic—to the surprise of some economists.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
However, consumer spending has held up so far.
—Ana Nicolaci Da Costa, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
There is no porthole, but dents in the wall mark where nails must once have held up maps or schedules, maybe photographs from home, and slotted into a niche in the wall is a small gilt mirror.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
The Huskies’ defense held up well against Ohio State, but the offense wasn’t capable of doing much in a 24-6 loss.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 Oct. 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
Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Users have confirmed the easy-to-maintain material has held up after multiple trips through the washer and dryer with no pilling.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
American shoppers have held up well since the end of the pandemic—to the surprise of some economists.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
However, consumer spending has held up so far.
—Ana Nicolaci Da Costa, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
There is no porthole, but dents in the wall mark where nails must once have held up maps or schedules, maybe photographs from home, and slotted into a niche in the wall is a small gilt mirror.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
The Huskies’ defense held up well against Ohio State, but the offense wasn’t capable of doing much in a 24-6 loss.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 Oct. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held up
Verb
-
Charles and Camilla were supposed to pay a state visit to the Vatican in early April, but the trip was postponed over Pope Francis’ poor health.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Meanwhile, eight days after Apple postponed The Savant, FBI director Kash Patel shuttered the very real (though, secretive) program — a partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) — on which the series (and the Cosmopolitan story) is based.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As part of that process, Netflix stopped disclosing its subscribers at the end of last year.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
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Weekly updates from the more specific FluView have stopped, as have summary reports from RESP-NET that tracks hospitalizations for Covid-19, flu and RSV from a network of hospitals across the country.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Scalability is also hampered by using hazardous, non-recyclable solvents in many processes.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Laboratory testing capacities at the CDC and expert guidance to analyze local trends may also be hampered during the shutdown, experts say.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sophia’s brother, who was with her that day, survived unharmed.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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The two supes are the only two babies known to have survived the experiment of injecting Compound V into utero babies (which resulted in the deaths of several other babies receiving the same treatment).—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, the couple remained close and even continued to live together at the Royal Lodge estate near Windsor Castle.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The ones that remained are the cream of the crop, and lack of activity has never been Sheridan’s problem.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hamas has said the process of recovering them has been delayed by the extent of destruction in the territory, while the Hostages and Missing Families Forum accuses the group of deliberately withholding information.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Travelers whose flights are delayed or canceled may be eligible for compensation or refunds, depending on the nature of the disruption.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hegseth also warned that such strikes would continue until those trying to smuggle drugs into the United States halted their operations.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Oct. 2025
-
A number of America's top employers have halted their sponsorship of H-1B visas for certain roles.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gaza desperately needs items that the Israeli government has frequently impeded, such as emergency shelter supplies, infrastructure reconstruction materials, medical supplies, fuel, and power generation.—
Jeremy Konyndyk,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The Charges The obstruction charge centers on allegations that Comey directed subordinates to remove or conceal those memos from FBI systems after his dismissal in May 2017, actions prosecutors claim impeded a lawful investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified material.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Held up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20up. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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