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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold up
Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
The jail in uptown Charlotte is designed to hold up to 1,791 people.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 8 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
The smooth, fluid drape reads elegant, and the fabric has a soft silk sheen that holds up beautifully in a suitcase.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
The jail in uptown Charlotte is designed to hold up to 1,791 people.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 8 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
-
Rolling the dice As insurance costs climb, many homeowners are postponing major life decisions and cutting back elsewhere.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2026
-
The North American leg of Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE’s Home on the Range tour has been postponed.—
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
5 June 2026
Verb
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By targeting Israel in response to attacks in Lebanon, Tehran appeared to be signaling that its red lines no longer stop at its own borders – and that its leaders are ready to take greater risks.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
-
Bussi got the nod after stopping 18 of 19 shots in relief of Andersen in Game 3 in the third period and two overtimes.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Trump has often alleged rampant voter fraud that has hampered Republicans’ success, and his base has largely accepted these sentiments to be true, despite no evidence backing up his accusations.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
-
Covid pandemic-era border closures hampered exchange between the two sides and later, Pyongyang grew closer to Moscow, deploying what are believed to be thousands of soldiers to aid Russia’s war against Ukraine.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
There is also the risk that a micrometeoroid could punch a hole in one of the heat-resistant outer tiles on the Orion spacecraft, NASA's crew capsule for the agency's Artemis moon missions, undermining its ability to survive the intense furnace of reentry, per NASA.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
7 June 2026
-
Unlike other fruit trees, yuzu can survive cold temperatures, which adds to its appeal for growing in home gardens.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Spain remains solidly second on the international rankings.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
The Covina Police Department said the incident remained under investigation.—
Seamus Bozeman
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
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
-
Sanfilippo is a fatal pediatric neurodegenerative disorder, with each delay in treatment equaling permanent neurological decline.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Artemis program Due to the Mark 1 issues outlined above, there will either be significant delays to, or the need to restructure the early phases of, the Moon Base program.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
This is the story of what happens to a dream deferred in the dusty apartments, drag clubs and secluded rivers of Colombia in the 1990s.—
Laura Zornosa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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The county’s cost-saving measures include eliminating vacant positions, cutting programs, deferring maintenance projects, increasing revenue and implementing layoffs.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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