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
Ciara McCarthy 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026
Investors will be looking for confirmation that production of its newest chips is on schedule and that long-term customer contracts are holding up, as well as whether increasing capacity from Samsung and SK Hynix starts to threaten the tight supply that has powered Micron's rally.
—Alicia Park, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The long view The expectation of a lower enrollment trend holding up is one of the key factors likely to translate into higher cost estimates as insurers draw up 2027 rates.
—Julie Appleby, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The Home Depot results echo early spring spending data that suggests consumers are still holding up all right — but not evenly.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Barthélémy is beautiful, luminous, committed, and vulnerable — and therefore just about succeeds in holding up Mount Olympus as the only character with interiority across the two-hour running time.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
However, there’s more than wood holding up the Marpole.
—Stefan Ionescu
may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2026
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
Verb
Brandsema explained that humans are born with one pool of motor neurons for life, and SMA slowly robs individuals of their motor neurons over time, leaving them with difficulty walking or running, holding up their heads, or even swallowing food and liquid safely.
—Ciara McCarthy 15, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026
Investors will be looking for confirmation that production of its newest chips is on schedule and that long-term customer contracts are holding up, as well as whether increasing capacity from Samsung and SK Hynix starts to threaten the tight supply that has powered Micron's rally.
—Alicia Park, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The long view The expectation of a lower enrollment trend holding up is one of the key factors likely to translate into higher cost estimates as insurers draw up 2027 rates.
—Julie Appleby, CBS News, 19 May 2026
The Home Depot results echo early spring spending data that suggests consumers are still holding up all right — but not evenly.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Barthélémy is beautiful, luminous, committed, and vulnerable — and therefore just about succeeds in holding up Mount Olympus as the only character with interiority across the two-hour running time.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 18 May 2026
However, there’s more than wood holding up the Marpole.
—Stefan Ionescu
may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding up
Adjective
-
Lucas was eager to try seafood during a family outing in Florida, but his first encounter with oysters left a lasting—and very public—impression.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
-
In a study presented this week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, doctors found that ultrasound technology can spot these dangerous blockages early enough to guide treatment and help prevent lasting injury.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
7 Dec. 2025
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,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Earlier in November, Clarkson announced new dates for her Studio Sessions residency in Las Vegas after postponing several shows due to Blackstock’s illness.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Apparently, the only thing stopping him from scoring a fourth is Argentina's taking him off the pitch.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
17 June 2026
-
Fans can also pick up souvenir maps when stopping at the attraction this summer.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors had until Wednesday to obtain an indictment against Chicago Laugh Factory manager Nathan Griffin, who had been charged with forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal officer.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
3 Dec. 2025
-
Maltos was jailed on charges of felony assault, resisting arrest and impeding a federal officer.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
With its distinctive, hornlike snout and protrudable jaws, the pink-skinned living fossil is the only surviving representative of a family lineage that dates back nearly 125 million years.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
11 June 2026
-
Reaching that age after surviving the Holocaust is nothing short of a miracle.—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Any remaining threats will clear out of the Midwest Thursday and shift into the East.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
Wipe the remaining interior with a wet, non-abrasive sponge to remove any residue, then dry with a clean cloth.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
After flying overnight from San Antonio back to the Big Apple, Jose Alvarado, also a native New Yorker, took part in a local Puerto Rican Day Parade, and the mayor joined him in the fun.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
Videos circulating online show Eduarda flying through the air, both arms outstretched, in the moments before her death.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
Verb
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While many campuses were delaying scholarship decisions until the government resolved problems with a new financial aid form, Swarthmore used other data to figure out applicants’ financial need.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Moscow has repeatedly said that Zelensky was not the legitimate leader of Ukraine and as such could not negotiate any peace deal but this has been seen by critics as aimed at delaying an end to Putin’s aggression.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20up. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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