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
Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
In 1981, Wuornos was arrested for holding up a convenience store for $33.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 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
An enormous photographic project, spanning nearly a century of Kentucky history, holds up a mirror to the state's past and present.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
In 1981, Wuornos was arrested for holding up a convenience store for $33.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 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
-
Clarkson announced her Studio Sessions residency earlier this year but abruptly postponed the run’s first few shows hours before opening night, July 4.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
-
New grant opportunities and review panels are postponed or canceled, researchers at government laboratories stop collecting and analyzing data, and university projects reliant on federal funding are put at risk.—
Kenneth M. Evans,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The former instantly adds a second layer of security against unwanted guests, and the latter emits an ultra-loud alarm while acting like a door stop wedge, scaring off any stranger who tries to enter your room.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
-
And Los Angeles did not stop there.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After the gargantuan task of playing a six-hour and 39-minute baseball game, it was almost expected that the Dodgers would be somewhat hampered, but the Toronto Blue Jays not only had the same circumstances, but handily won Game 4.—
Gabe Smallson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 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 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Elaine and Alan survived this week's eliminations, and will return to the show next week.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
That old story survived the reevaluation of war that took place during the Enlightenment; the transformation of the modern battlefield by mass mobilization and factory-scale killing in the twentieth century; and now, the separation between killer and target facilitated by technology.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Still, the project adds another exclusive tier to a venue already marked by VIP enclaves, raising questions about how much of COTA’s most distinctive real estate will remain truly accessible — and for how long.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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But its 60-table card room, tucked into a low-key design, remained.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Palace’s super-strength is low crosses provided by flying wing-backs, when they can be released, running into space on the edge of the box.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The fabrics utilize the same aerodynamic principles as a golf ball, whose dimpled surface causes a ball to fly further by using turbulence to reduce drag.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Once again, LaGuardia Airport was particularly affected by delays, with 132 disruptions, as was John F Kennedy International Airport (102) and Logan International Airport (98).—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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On Saturday, Egypt’s showpiece museum officially opens its doors after innumerable interruptions, delays and setbacks.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Both sides gave positive signals after trade talks over the weekend, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting Beijing would defer its controls on rare earths, while the US would pull back its 100% tariff threat and extend an earlier tariff truce.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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The Trail Blazers deferred comment to the NBA and announced that an assistant coach, Tiago Splitter, would assume head coaching responsibilities.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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