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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold up
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025
In the last couple of meetings between the Ravens and Chiefs, the Kansas City defense more than held up, especially in the 2023 AFC Championship Game.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The source of the holdup is a quiet internal policy requiring projects to undergo not just scientific review, but political scrutiny.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
Trotter struggled at first to describe the second mask Carey held up.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2025
In the last couple of meetings between the Ravens and Chiefs, the Kansas City defense more than held up, especially in the 2023 AFC Championship Game.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
So, what's the Rockets' holdup?
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The source of the holdup is a quiet internal policy requiring projects to undergo not just scientific review, but political scrutiny.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
Fans have been waiting for Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor to duke it out in the octagon, but injuries and other factors have postponed the bout.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Chichester’s match against Lewes on Saturday was postponed and Tuesday night’s game against Cheshunt will not be going ahead either.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The trend shows no signs of stopping.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
To help stop the spread, wash your hands, avoid sick areas, and report symptoms quickly.—
Jenna Anderson,
Health,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After being hampered by injuries late in his time with the Royals, Keller is healthy and happy to be part of Chicago’s bullpen.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
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The appointment ends a three-month mayoral vacancy that has been hampering efforts to repair the city's aging, leak-prone water system.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This discipline, debating until the best idea survives, teaches future leaders to welcome scrutiny, pressure-test their own reasoning, and make tough calls with limited information.—
Ruth Umoh,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
In June, Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition narrowly survived a push for early elections, which could have led to the dissolution of his government and advanced an election set for October 2026.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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About 20 living hostages remain captive in desperate conditions, Israeli officials say, and about 25 more are believed to have died, but their bodies have not been returned to their families.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Slegers stopped short of admitting Arsenal are in the land of asking for favours elsewhere to remain in the title race.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ross passed the day's examination with flying colors, barely flinching at the rubber chicken.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Swift recorded the album during her behemoth Eras Tour, flying in and out of Sweden between stops to lay down tracks.—
Liz Schubauer,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Pontifical Academies also warned that delay raises systemic risks (economic, social, and health related) echoing the investor logic that policy certainty lowers risk premia.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
That delay could expose Club name Boeing to sizable non-cash accounting charges.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Joseph VonNida deferred questions about the state’s version of that unit to the Department of Homeland Security.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Cox also called for unity in hopes of deferring political violence.—
Lee Ann Anderson,
The Hill,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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