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

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stopped

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

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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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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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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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as in flew

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

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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 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 The results of that election are currently held up in court. —

Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026 Across the stands at Citi Field on Wednesday night, people held up handmade posters calling Juan Soto a savior and pleading for his help. —

Will Sammon, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026 Arnault on Thursday emphasized LVMH's aspiration to move further into the luxury jewelry business, which has held up better amid the sector's slump as those consumers are typically wealthier and less price sensitive. —

Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for held up

Verb

When shots were fired, hundreds of attendees ducked under tables or took cover inside the ballroom before being evacuated, and the event was subsequently postponed.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
OpenAI is similarly seeking to go public as soon as this year, but that goal could be postponed depending on the trial’s outcome.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2026