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
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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 Dorfman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
But that simply doesn’t hold up under factual examination.
—Joanne Frederick, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025
Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Hamas said the holdup in providing the list was technical.
—Mohammed Salem, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
Therefore, my second-biggest concentration is in health-care stocks, because the health sector usually holds up pretty well in rough markets.
—John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
But that simply doesn’t hold up under factual examination.
—Joanne Frederick, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025
Noun
The charges stem from an eight-month investigation into the 7:01 a.m. Aug. 30th holdup at 7-Eleven, 4501 95th St., by five armed and masked males, police said.
—Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Hamas said the holdup in providing the list was technical.
—Mohammed Salem, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
The city of Cudahy has postponed its Independence Day Celebration that was set for Thursday, July 3.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
-
The item needs to come back to the commission for final approval, at which point it would be sent to voters on the November ballot — now in a special election since the main election has been postponed.—
Tess Riski,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Paul Goldschmidt had one of just three Yankees hits in Saturday’s 7-0 loss to the A’s, but that didn’t stop him from sharing some self-depreciation after the game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
-
Without any consequences, this autocratic politician will continue to push the limits of his authority beyond the breaking point until someone forces him to stop.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
29 June 2025
Verb
-
Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
To survive, pedal builders are doing something unusual in a competitive business: turning to one another for help.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
-
The measure narrowly survived the Senate after a marathon session ended with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote Tuesday.—
Caitlin Yilek
July 1,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Game support remains problematically limited, but Samsung has plans to fix that soon.—
Luke Larsen,
Wired News,
25 June 2025
-
The new poll from Susquehanna Polling suggests that Fetterman remains narrowly above water among Democrats, but that Republicans view him even more favorably.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Nearly two weeks ago, 62 carbon-spewing private jets reportedly flew world leaders into Kananaskis, Canada, for the G7 summit, raising serious questions about the travel choices of those who are supposed to be tackling climate change and other global crises.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
-
The administration eventually flew him back, but immediately detained him on criminal charges.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
The Trump budget cuts now mean Europe may have to go it alone, possibly facing further delays.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
30 June 2025
-
The Defense Intelligence Agency concluded in a low-confidence initial assessment that the strikes caused only limited delays to Iran's nuclear program and failed to destroy key underground sites.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
Verb
-
The highest annual salary in the NFL is Dak Prescott’s $60 million, and the richest MLB contract is Shohei Ohtani’s at $70 million per year, although 97% of that money is deferred, which lowers the present-day value of the deal.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
1 July 2025
-
The Pistons acknowledged there was an investigation ongoing but deferred further comment to the NBA.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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