as in keeping up
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holding up
Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
The photo shows Belichick, wearing a Code Black shirt and hat covered in roses, and Hudson, still sporting her cheerleading uniform, holding up three fingers for the camera.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Several feature her holding up Ironman finisher medals or plaques.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
In fact, the International Atomic Energy Agency had consistently certified Tehran was holding up its end of the bargain.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Last week, Xi met the leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the China-friendly Kuomintang, which is holding up a $40 billion special defense budget to purchase US weapons.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
He was also photographed holding up the heart emoji with his hands — a tribute to his two daughters — while being introduced ahead of the Artemis II takeoff.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
The resultant device blends fast discharge speeds with massive storage capacity, holding up to 25 times more energy per kilogram than conventional versions.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Hungary's nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of deliberately holding up oil supplies -- claims that Zelenskyy denies.
—Lorne Cook The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
But another federal agency was apparently holding up the revision.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
The photo shows Belichick, wearing a Code Black shirt and hat covered in roses, and Hudson, still sporting her cheerleading uniform, holding up three fingers for the camera.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Several feature her holding up Ironman finisher medals or plaques.
—ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
In fact, the International Atomic Energy Agency had consistently certified Tehran was holding up its end of the bargain.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Last week, Xi met the leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the China-friendly Kuomintang, which is holding up a $40 billion special defense budget to purchase US weapons.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 14 Apr. 2026
He was also photographed holding up the heart emoji with his hands — a tribute to his two daughters — while being introduced ahead of the Artemis II takeoff.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
The resultant device blends fast discharge speeds with massive storage capacity, holding up to 25 times more energy per kilogram than conventional versions.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Hungary's nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of deliberately holding up oil supplies -- claims that Zelenskyy denies.
—Lorne Cook The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding up
Verb
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Prosecutor Ryan McBride also indicated postponing the hearing would delay proceedings by at least six months and violate Erika Kirk’s right to a speedy trial, as the widow of the victim.—
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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MotoGP also had to shuffle its schedule due to the conflict in the Middle East, postponing the Qatar Grand Prix to November.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
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That led many to believe that, while treatments and crisis care are vital, the goal of suicide prevention needs to expand beyond stopping people from dying to also giving them reasons to live.—
Aneri Pattani,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
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Bain walked purposefully, never slowing, never stopping — not even to size himself up in his new Bucs hat in the mirror — before striding onstage for a hug with the commissioner.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The origin of the drones was unclear, but the French news agency AFP quoted Vyacheslav Chaus, governor of the neighboring Chernihiv region in Ukraine, as saying that Russian craft have been constantly hovering over the area and impeding the fire response.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
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Makary’s tenure has also been tumultuous, marked by personnel drama, departures of longtime staff, and controversy over political pressure impeding the FDA’s scientific process.—
Lizzy Lawrence,
STAT,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Almost immediately, the surviving trees faced trouble.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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The annoyance economy’s impact can be starker for those surviving on tighter budgets.—
Becca Stanek,
TheWeek,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The village will hold on to the remaining 60%, and whoever buys the home will receive property tax breaks for 10 years.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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The canoe area lies in the national forest just downstream from the mine site, raising concerns that digging could create pollution that would contaminate one of the nation’s last remaining wild areas.—
Todd Richmond,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Other things flying up include flexible repair patches for sealing the space station’s hull, a replacement ultrasonic inspection tool, spare units for the station’s vibration monitoring system and parts to improve water processing and oxygen generation.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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The pair got the gold-star treatment from some European designers, with Chanel flying them over to attend the fall show and to dine privately with Karl Lagerfeld.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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San Diego is delaying most impacts of a new state law that requires cities to allow high-rise housing near trolley stations and major bus stops — but questions persist about how many bus stops the new law will affect.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
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Yamaha’s plant shut down due to Covid-19, delaying TCW’s ability to retrieve and return the equipment in the allotted time, but Evergreen still charged the fees.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The Chicago Transit Authority is resuming normal service on the Green Line, after halting service on its western section due to an unauthorized person on the tracks near the Damen stop.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
5 May 2026
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In an apparent effort to dutifully execute his wishes, DOJ filed a motion demanding that District Judge Richard Leon dissolve his injunction halting the ballroom project.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20up. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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