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
If the line holds up and Kohl and Gaines are as good as advertised, the Panthers could be dangerous.
—
Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
One notable feature is the hidden bit storage compartment, which includes a magnetic base that holds up to four standard S2 bits for a total of six in the entire multitool – the original Joat stored just two.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
If the forecast high of 91 holds up, that would be about 15 degrees warmer than normal and would match the daily record for March 20 set exactly 50 years ago in 1976.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Whether that outlook holds up likely will depend on how things play out in the Middle East.
—Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
The pieces knit together to form a cast iron surface that sheds water, smothers weeds and holds up for a long time.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Chet Holmgren misses a minute, and Isaiah Hartenstein holds up the rim protection.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The storyline is timeless, and the computer animation—a breakthrough when it was released—still holds up for today's digital-savvy kids.
—Karen Cicero, Parents, 5 Mar. 2026
The standard Baggu holds up to three grocery bags’ worth of items, yet folds down into a flat, five-inch pouch that fits in the palm of my hand.
—Kayla Kitts, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
One notable feature is the hidden bit storage compartment, which includes a magnetic base that holds up to four standard S2 bits for a total of six in the entire multitool – the original Joat stored just two.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
If the forecast high of 91 holds up, that would be about 15 degrees warmer than normal and would match the daily record for March 20 set exactly 50 years ago in 1976.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Whether that outlook holds up likely will depend on how things play out in the Middle East.
—Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
The pieces knit together to form a cast iron surface that sheds water, smothers weeds and holds up for a long time.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Chet Holmgren misses a minute, and Isaiah Hartenstein holds up the rim protection.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The storyline is timeless, and the computer animation—a breakthrough when it was released—still holds up for today's digital-savvy kids.
—Karen Cicero, Parents, 5 Mar. 2026
The standard Baggu holds up to three grocery bags’ worth of items, yet folds down into a flat, five-inch pouch that fits in the palm of my hand.
—Kayla Kitts, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds up
Verb
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Instead, the sentencing for the teenager falls under a process known as Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile, which postpones an adult sentence until his 21st birthday.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Discord postpones age verification Discord, the popular platform for gamers to communicate online, is postponing its controversial age verification policy after receiving swift backlash from users with concerns about their privacy.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Once the larger transfer is sent, the account suddenly stops responding.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The grinder is operated with one touch and automatically stops when your grounds are ready to go.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That burden, along with the conventions of the true-crime genre, not to mention that of theater in service of a political point, sometimes hampers the interpretive space of the actors and the creative team, who have to spend a lot of their time getting the facts and the history across.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Experiments are also being conducted to ensure the technology survives the rigors of daily use, aiming for a lifespan of over one million cycles.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The fact that this work survives is an exhilarating triumph.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All that remains of his apartment is rubble, leaving him and the rest of his family homeless.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Years later, only John (now played by Aramayo) remains with Heather at home, medicated into semi-submission, with little hope of a life of independence or fulfillment.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The bee that flies alone gets swatted, or at least turned into a necklace at some rich lady’s garden party.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
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But, Wiseman stressed, the blame doesn't lie with the toilet itself, which is a more compact version of the loo that flies on the International Space Station.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The plan also maintains full scope Medi-Cal for asylees and other immigrant groups who were cut out of Medicaid by the federal government and delays Medi-Cal premiums for undocumented immigrants that would otherwise begin on July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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According to the Terner Center at UC Berkeley, each additional public funding source an affordable developer uses, on average, delays a project four months and increases total cost by $20,460 per unit — more than $2 million for a 100-unit community.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay, which immediately halts most collection actions, including garnishment.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
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And even if Israel halts its strikes on Iran, there’s no guarantee Tehran will reciprocate.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20up. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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