as in keeping up
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in postponing
to assign to a later time
held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in impeding
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 surviving
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in remaining
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 flying
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
an argument that won't hold up in court
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding up
David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Jan. 2026
Videos posted on social media show protesters chanting inside the hotel and holding up signs, while refusing to leave the lobby.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
But videos show Pretti was holding up a cellphone, not his gun, when he was approached by agents.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Videos quickly were shared online about the shooting and show Pretti holding up his phone and recording agents.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Suamataia holding up was one of the few things that went right.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
The woman and the agent appear to be holding up cellphones filming each other.
—Chris Looft, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2026
The photos show the couple's two older kids — son Charlie, 2, and daughter Grace, 5 — holding up balloon numbers of 1 and 2, while Abbie is pictured holding a series of sonogram images and the balloon number 3.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Despite having some huge stars attached like Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, and Niecy Nash-Betts, All’s Fair, a new legal drama from Ryan Murphy, is not holding up in the court of the critics.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
The White House has expressed openness to a compromise with the Democrats, who are holding up a government funding bill over the shooting.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Jan. 2026
Videos posted on social media show protesters chanting inside the hotel and holding up signs, while refusing to leave the lobby.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
But videos show Pretti was holding up a cellphone, not his gun, when he was approached by agents.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Videos quickly were shared online about the shooting and show Pretti holding up his phone and recording agents.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Suamataia holding up was one of the few things that went right.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
The woman and the agent appear to be holding up cellphones filming each other.
—Chris Looft, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2026
The photos show the couple's two older kids — son Charlie, 2, and daughter Grace, 5 — holding up balloon numbers of 1 and 2, while Abbie is pictured holding a series of sonogram images and the balloon number 3.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Despite having some huge stars attached like Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts, Glenn Close, and Niecy Nash-Betts, All’s Fair, a new legal drama from Ryan Murphy, is not holding up in the court of the critics.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding up
Verb
-
These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
But Texas women's basketball is postponing its game against Arkansas.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The controversy began at the end of a planning and zoning meeting last Thursday, when the council member raised concerns about Border Patrol agents stopping people in the community.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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States such as Minnesota should also look to civil law as a basis for stopping baleful and unlawful ICE tactics.—
Aziz Huq,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Several other cases remain pending — most notably the high-profile conspiracy charges against six protesters, including several Democratic political candidates, accused of impeding immigration officers and damaging a vehicle outside the Broadview ICE facility in September.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
In the end, she was issued a $164 citation for impeding traffic by refusing to follow a temporary traffic pattern.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Located on Glasgow’s main shopping street, Mackintosh at the Willow is the only surviving tea room designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret Macdonald.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Kernodle had been stabbed so many times that her surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen initially identified her as Goncalves when questioned by police.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Congress has already approved six of its 12 annual spending bills, but the remaining funding accounts for 75% of all discretionary spending.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Jan. 2026
-
China National Nuclear Corporation holds a 51% stake, while China Guodian Corporation owns the remaining 49%.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Quayle said that partially because of new restrictions on Newark flying, United will have aircraft available.—
Ted Reed,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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However, on January 29, the Black Hawk was flying following an FAA memorandum which allowed it to be turned off.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Persons should consider delaying all travel.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
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These conditions can make driving challenging, so exercise extreme caution on the road, and if possible, consider delaying your trip.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In another scathing ruling from Chicago, US District Court Judge April Perry – a Biden nominee – granted a temporary restraining order halting troop deployment into Illinois for two weeks in October.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
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The National Council for Adoption estimates the latest restrictions are halting the cases of more than 1,000 children in over 40 countries.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20up. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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