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
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
Paired with the Country Fried Steak, an 8-ounce beef steak lightly coated, fried, and topped with white gravy, the table has something substantial that holds up as the game stretches on.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026
Cumming holds up his iPhone to the camera, proudly boasting about still-unseen looks in all their campy and ridiculous glory.
—Jonathan Borge, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
This teapot holds up to 32 ounces of liquid.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
As wind continues to pound the camp, a wooden pole delicately holds up the tarpaulin keeping him dry.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
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
Paired with the Country Fried Steak, an 8-ounce beef steak lightly coated, fried, and topped with white gravy, the table has something substantial that holds up as the game stretches on.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026
Cumming holds up his iPhone to the camera, proudly boasting about still-unseen looks in all their campy and ridiculous glory.
—Jonathan Borge, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
This teapot holds up to 32 ounces of liquid.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
As wind continues to pound the camp, a wooden pole delicately holds up the tarpaulin keeping him dry.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds up
Verb
-
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
-
This creates a temporary, dynamic obstacle that slows other molecules or stops them from moving through.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Also, back home, Lip Smacking now offers a foodie tour in San Jose – at Santana Row – which stops at four of the center’s top restaurants.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a world gone terribly wrong and sideways, humanity survives.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Mar. 2026
-
If the Iranian regime survives in weakened form, Beijing will likely calibrate limited, deniable support while avoiding overcommitment.—
John Calabrese,
The Conversation,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But Olivia, Dan, and Vanessa's threesome remains in the running for the title of Gossip Girl's most shocking moment.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Attorneys Bradley Gage and Benjamin Crump filed a class-action lawsuit against the city in 2021 that remains ongoing.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Eco effort Few & Far Luvhondo operates on solar power and is 100% zero waste, in part thanks to an army of black soldier flies that turn food scraps into fertilizer.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
-
But researchers found in 2022 that brine flies, which form the base of the lake’s food web, and brine shrimp, a multimillion, global fish food business in Utah, had begun to disappear.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.—
Lauran Neergaard,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The United States could suspend transfers of those funds unless Baghdad halts the financing of the PMF.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The moratorium halts approvals for sewer capacity allocation for new developments within the Baltimore City Sewer Service Area (SSA), according to the department.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20up. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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