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
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
The company said growing demand for power, supply chain and other issues holding up new power sources and plant outages contributed to the need to keep Comanche 2 open longer than planned.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
This storage rack fits onto most car roof racks, capable of holding up to six pairs of skis or four snowboards.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Other Democrats protested by holding up signs and wearing statements on their clothing or walking out of the chamber altogether.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
The outlet-exclusive style, on sale for under $40, is the ultimate travel essential, holding up to 52 liters.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Water level changes on Catawba basin The broader Catawba River system, Jones said, is still holding up for now.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
After the win, Mafe celebrated with a cigar and holding up the Nigerian flag in honor of his heritage.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
The company said growing demand for power, supply chain and other issues holding up new power sources and plant outages contributed to the need to keep Comanche 2 open longer than planned.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
This storage rack fits onto most car roof racks, capable of holding up to six pairs of skis or four snowboards.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Other Democrats protested by holding up signs and wearing statements on their clothing or walking out of the chamber altogether.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
The outlet-exclusive style, on sale for under $40, is the ultimate travel essential, holding up to 52 liters.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Water level changes on Catawba basin The broader Catawba River system, Jones said, is still holding up for now.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
After the win, Mafe celebrated with a cigar and holding up the Nigerian flag in honor of his heritage.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holding up
Verb
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Washington’s business-first approach offers material order in exchange for indefinitely postponing democratic aspirations.—
Boris Muñoz,
Time,
3 Apr. 2026
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Exporters said that the decision reflected the gravity of the situation; postponing the events was unavoidable.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Brooke Bereuter was masterful in goal for Grapevine shutting out Argyle (18-4-3) until the shootout, including stopping a key penalty kick in the first half.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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And on Monday, March 30, the court upheld the stay, effectively stopping any chance that the execution would happen as scheduled.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The indictment includes the conspiracy count, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, as well as several other counts of forcibly impeding a federal officer, each punishable by up to one year in federal prison.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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New research from our team of epidemiologists at University of Southern California and University of California, Irvine, shows that blowing dust is impeding the lung growth of children in the region – especially those living closest to the Salton Sea.—
Jill Johnston,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Beating the Soviet Union to the moon made the huge risks acceptable for Apollo, said Charlie Duke, one of only four surviving moonwalkers.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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In 2019, Kathy Kleiner Rubin told Rolling Stone about her experience of surviving an attack from Bundy.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Add remaining meringue in 3 batches, gently folding with a rubber spatula after each addition until only a few streaks of meringue remain (err on the side of undermixing to keep the cake batter billowy).—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
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There’s still a week-plus remaining, so things can shift.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fort Collins now has drones flying the city nearly every day as a resource to the police, fire and utilities departments.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Meteor showers such as the Lyrids can be tracked yearly, because the debris flying through the night sky in fiery streaks is coming from the same comet.—
Hali Smith
March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Are clients delaying decisions on big investments?—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Others called it a performative move that contrasts with the EPA’s recent regulatory actions, including a rollback of mercury emissions standards, rescinding drinking water limits for certain PFAS and delaying Biden-era restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Nasa Worldview | Via Reuters The maritime passage has been almost completely shut by Iran since the war began in late February, effectively halting the shipping of Gulf oil and gas through the strait.—
Holly Ellyatt,Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
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In retaliation for a ground invasion, Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen could attack ships in the Red Sea, halting the flow of oil and cargo via a route that’s been used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holding%20up. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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