1
as in postpones
to assign to a later time
held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stops
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hampers
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 survives
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 remains
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 flies
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 holds up
Whether Greenspan's thesis ultimately holds up remains the subject of debate.
—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Henry Fonda gives one of his most iconic performances in a movie that holds up nearly seven decades after it was released.
—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
McDowell isn’t convinced the comparison holds up.
—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
The high-strength nylon exterior is impressively durable, and the water-repellent coating holds up against rain, spills, and everyday wear.
—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
It’s prized for sculpting a high-definition lip that holds up under the harshest red-carpet lighting.
—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Parking, Passes and the Resort Math Standard parking is $25 per day for a regular-sized car, and the lot holds up to 10,000 cars.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Parking Costs and the Resort Shuttle Dollywood’s parking lot holds up to 10,000 cars, and standard parking runs $25 per day for a regular-sized car.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
If Greenlaw holds up physically — always a concern — that’s likely more than the 49ers wanted to pay for a reserve.
—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Henry Fonda gives one of his most iconic performances in a movie that holds up nearly seven decades after it was released.
—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
McDowell isn’t convinced the comparison holds up.
—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
The high-strength nylon exterior is impressively durable, and the water-repellent coating holds up against rain, spills, and everyday wear.
—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
It’s prized for sculpting a high-definition lip that holds up under the harshest red-carpet lighting.
—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Parking, Passes and the Resort Math Standard parking is $25 per day for a regular-sized car, and the lot holds up to 10,000 cars.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Parking Costs and the Resort Shuttle Dollywood’s parking lot holds up to 10,000 cars, and standard parking runs $25 per day for a regular-sized car.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
If Greenlaw holds up physically — always a concern — that’s likely more than the 49ers wanted to pay for a reserve.
—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds up
Verb
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The Defense secretary said the ceasefire postpones the deadline for securing such approval.
-
This is equally true of society, and disregarding this truth only postpones the moment of reckoning.
Verb
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Burke won the Stanley Cup as Anaheim’s general manager in 2007, one of several front-office stops for him, along with time spent as the NHL’s director of hockey operations.
-
The nose stops registering any single note and the room just smells busy.
Verb
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Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
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Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
Verb
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The goal is to ensure that Scottish culture in South Florida not only survives but thrives for years ahead.
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Megalodon’s Body Was Built For Dominance The most immediate problem in reconstructing the megalodon is that sharks are cartilaginous fish, which means that their skeletons are made of cartilage, not bone, which rarely survives fossilization.
Verb
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But the fear of being snatched by ICE agents remains, Neel said.
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But much of the repressive and corrupt structure in place during Maduro’s reign remains, with no concrete date set for democratic presidential elections.
Verb
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Here, a quilt flies over the spacious skies of Utah’s Dead Horse Point State Park (an area threatened by drilling permits approved by the US Bureau of Land Management) bearing Wes Gordon’s Georgia, Ashlynn Park’s Arkansas, and Sergio Hudson’s South Carolina, among others.
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The Lions are not typically a team that flies counter to recognizing social justice causes.
Verb
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The deal delays highly technical discussions over the mechanics of unwinding Iran’s nuclear program.
-
Lowe said that the government’s statutory inquiry risks becoming another long process that delays accountability, comparing it to other British scandals where official reckoning came only years later.
Verb
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The findings indicate that bird-watching and similar hobbies may support overall brain health, though researchers stop short of saying the activity definitively halts cognitive decline.
-
The findings do not definitively prove that birding halts cognitive decline, but the evidence is promising.
Cite this Entry
“Holds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20up. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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