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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Jaime, who had on a yellow reflective vest and a helmet, held up his phone near his supervisor’s and, courtesy of the FarEye app, instantly received the coördinates for the packages—a total of forty-five—he’d be delivering.
—Henry Alford, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
According to McKay, five of the holdups involved a man armed with what appeared to be a firearm.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
But those allegations don’t hold up.
—Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Jaime, who had on a yellow reflective vest and a helmet, held up his phone near his supervisor’s and, courtesy of the FarEye app, instantly received the coördinates for the packages—a total of forty-five—he’d be delivering.
—Henry Alford, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
But the reality is election-year politics and a funding holdup by Democrats and a small number of Republicans are perhaps responsible for bringing us to this point.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
According to McKay, five of the holdups involved a man armed with what appeared to be a firearm.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
However, the launch was postponed a day earlier with no new date set.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
The Providence Journal,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The conflict has caused financial strain, forcing families to cut back on spending and postpone major plans.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Asking the engineers to stop designing a firing squad chamber for the state of Idaho to execute death-row prisoners.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Yankees went a perfect 5-for-5 with ABS challenges in Monday’s 2-1 walk-off loss to the Mariners, but that didn’t stop Boone and company from barking at home plate umpire Mike Estabrook.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The moves have reportedly left the task force without prosecutors with national security experience, hampering its goal to root out American connections to the Hamas attacks (which included 40 Americans among its approximately 1,200 victims).—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In an era when brick-and-mortar bookstores seem to be in grave peril, this charming West Village corner store, which first opened in 1968, has managed to survive.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
All people were able to survive with no life-threatening injuries.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Upon arriving, the drone will remain up to 300 feet in the air while a pod, attached by a tether and carrying the product, descends to the ground.—
Chase Jordan
March 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Following the money While much of the money’s final destination remains unclear, the documents offer glimpses into how some of it was spent.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While some of the students were flying through the sky for dunks and layups, the impact of the courts goes beyond hoops, too.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
-
As the operation collapses into violence and betrayal his only way out is to keep flying.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This time, however, travelers are already facing long lines and delays due to the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has left thousands of TSA workers without pay.—
De'Anthony Taylor,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Mar. 2026
-
If there had been even a 30-second delay, Wilson might be alive, Pastor Ronald Blackwood told Wilson’s family and friends last Saturday at his funeral service at the Star of David Funeral Chapel in North Lauderdale.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His deal would have funded TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard immediately, while deferring the fight over ICE to a later vote.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Forget that Tucker is the highest annual earner in major-league history, that Ohtani agreed to defer $680 million of his salary and that the Dodgers are paying nearly $30 million to their eighth- and ninth-inning pitchers this season.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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