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
Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 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
In a story published by Politico in January, anonymous sources said that Scott, who was confirmed in his job in June, was holding up progress.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 3 Feb. 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
-
Since the 2022 coup, its military leaders have launched sweeping changes, including postponing elections that were expected to restore civilian rule and dissolving the country’s independent electoral commission.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
By postponing them, Congress preserves the current legal gray area, including the confusion employers face when lawful hemp use leads to positive drug tests.—
Alonzo Martinez,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the day wears on, the interview subjects recall their WhatsApp groups lighting up, until more people from the surrounding buildings add to the sea of residents stopping the van from taking off.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
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Teams will fill the rocket’s tank with more than 700,000 gallons of super-cold fuel, stopping a half-minute short of when the engines would light.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lemon was charged violating federal laws by impeding the First Amendment right to freedom of religion.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
-
On social media, the administration has accused people of violently attacking federal immigration agents or impeding operations.—
Jude Joffe-Block,
NPR,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This puts a premium on range, payload, and onboard computing power, all while surviving the stresses of carrier launches and recoveries at sea.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The organization’s website states that receiving CPR immediately after the onset can help to double – even triple – the chances of surviving.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rosenior took the risk of a formation shift to keep his side in the match for as long as possible before taking the handbrake off with half an hour remaining.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The remaining bills passed Tuesday mean that the vast majority of the federal government has been funded.—
Kevin Freking,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 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
-
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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The leaks cropped up early in Monday’s loading operation and again hours later, ultimately halting the countdown clocks at the five-minute mark.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Top New York Democrats celebrate Sunrise Wind ruling Danish company Orsted sued the administration over halting both Sunrise Wind and its Revolution Wind for Rhode Island and Connecticut.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20up. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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