1
as in to postpone
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 to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to hamper
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 to survive
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 to remain
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 to fly
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
an argument that won't hold up in court
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
a holdup in construction due to the weather
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold up
John Liu, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
The results held up across all four countries, albeit to different degrees, even after adjusting for other factors like air pollution, income and neighbourhood conditions.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Roy indicated there was progress in assessing leadership’s plan on how to handle spending after conversations on the House floor during the holdup.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
Under the deal, Boyu Capital will hold up to a 60% interest in Starbucks retail operations in China of over 8,000 outlets, with the coffee chain retaining a minority 40% stake and continuing to license the Starbucks brand and intellectual property to the new entity.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
The results held up across all four countries, albeit to different degrees, even after adjusting for other factors like air pollution, income and neighbourhood conditions.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Whose idea was this, and what kinds of settler-colonial relations does this mock holdup invert?
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Roy indicated there was progress in assessing leadership’s plan on how to handle spending after conversations on the House floor during the holdup.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
That court date has since been postponed, per NBC.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The opening of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City, Nigeria, originally slated for November 11, has been postponed after a group of some twenty protesters disrupted a preview event on November 9.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
On third-and-1 with seven seconds left, Schakel took the snap and tried to spike the ball, which would have stopped the clock and given his team one final play to go for the win.—
Alex Valdes,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Among those who do use an advisor, 26% are considering switching and 18% may stop using an advisor altogether.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Damage to the blood-brain barrier leads to inflammation within the brain and hampers the clearance of waste products like beta-amyloid protein (seen in Alzheimer's disease).—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
-
All of these issues combined have left Target with a workforce that has grown faster than sales and a complex corporate structure that has hampered decision-making and created needless red tape.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,Annie Palmer,Frank Holland,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
All three nuclear powers have established their own nuclear triad, consisting of ICBMs, submarines armed with ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft, which ensure their forces can survive a first strike and retaliate, thereby deterring a nuclear attack.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
These criminal networks survive on money from drug trafficking, gold smuggling, arms and human trafficking.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For many young women, the stiletto’s discomfort is part of the appeal, offering proof that effort and glamor remain in an age of casual sneakers.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The quarterback situation remained dire.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The airline said customers looking for a refund on any flight can get one, even if flying basic economy or with a non-refundable ticket.—
Rachel Scott,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The trailer, soundtracked by a lilting piano melody, reveals the basic premise of the film, which focuses on a young boy named Arco from a distant and peaceful future, where humans live in the sky and use rainbow suits to fly through the air.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Flyers should try to mitigate any headaches from delays and cancellations by avoiding booking flights with layovers, the non-profit US Public Interest Research Group says, and opt to make reservations directly with the airline rather than a third-party website.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Carriers are required to refund customers whose flights are canceled but not to cover costs such as food and hotels unless a delay or cancellation results from a factor within the control of the airlines, according to the Department of Transportation.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Fears of the dotcom bubble repeating can be deferred for now — even Powell suggested so.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
-
After a brief discussion to defer a vote for fear of litigation, the board moved forward with the vote that ended in a 4-4 tie.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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