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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold up
Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
In many cases, economic impact studies are held up as justification for these expenditures.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 16 June 2026
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
That gene, called rplW, seems to be the critical holdup.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
In the rain, fed-up locals held up homemade signs bearing the number 119—a reminder to the government officials passing through of just how many lives were lost during the flood.
—Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
In many cases, economic impact studies are held up as justification for these expenditures.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 16 June 2026
Noun
Police have also charged 32-year-old Guardy Roman in connection with two of the holdups reported last fall.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
That gene, called rplW, seems to be the critical holdup.
—ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
Mangione, who wore a dark gray suit with a light blue shirt, appeared in court before Judge Gregory Carro to continue last week’s evidence suppression hearing that had been postponed because the 27-year-old suspect was sick.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Ultimately, the bride shared in an update, the couple decided to postpone the wedding until June 2027, and decreasing the size of the guest list.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Dallas Cowboys fans can stop wondering if George Pickens will be the latest holdout or hold in for the franchise because on Tuesday, the receiver cleared the air by reporting to mandatory minicamp.—
Briana Aldridge,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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This often meant that European nations recruited talented footballers from their former colonies to stop them from playing elsewhere.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Popular notions of philanthropy as merely a game for the ultrawealthy to fund partisan projects and commit fraud have left the sector vulnerable to political attacks, as the Council on Foundations sees it, influencing policies that hamper essential community services.—
James Pollard,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Congolese health authorities have previously said contact tracing has been hampered by community resistance in some areas and by the rapid expansion of the outbreak into new health zones, increasing the workload for surveillance teams.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The pier was able to survive Saturday's King Tide, which the National Weather Service said was the highest Summer wave levels on record.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Not bad for a company whose own founder once gave it less than a 10% chance of surviving.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
When the full-scale war started, the three youngest boys were evacuated to a children’s home in Modica, Sicily, where two, who are still minors, remain; the third now lives on his own in Italy, Ivan said.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
-
Shared by Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news agency, the pictures show that the rooves of the facilities have collapsed although the walls remain intact.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The weather service also urged people to avoid windows, and if outdoors, in a mobile home or in a vehicle to seek the closest substantial shelter and to protect themselves from flying debris.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
-
The Cougars came out of the gate flying, with Ani Woodard registering a hat trick and Emma Whoriskey and Taylor Watts adding goals in the opening frame.—
Jack Murray,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
This story will be updated as more delays and closures are announced.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Dec. 2025
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The mutation can result in childhood-onset epilepsy, developmental delays and movement disorders, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.—
Vicky Nguyen,
NBC news,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The chief engineer and the federal government have agreed to defer the prosecution, meaning that his case is on pause.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
The nuclear issue – along with core issues such as ballistic missiles and Iran’s proxies – has been deferred for 60 days.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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