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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds up
Verb
-
The Defense secretary said the ceasefire postpones the deadline for securing such approval.—
Ben Finley,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This is equally true of society, and disregarding this truth only postpones the moment of reckoning.—
Alec Nevala-Lee,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When the game stops, it will be called on account of darkness.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Many guests are juggling packed itineraries—pyramid visits, museum stops, Nile cruise transfers—and the staff are well practiced at coordinating drivers, guides, and early departures.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 May 2026
-
Electronics are susceptible to temperature changes, and any dust that blocks outward air vents or hampers fresh air flow into the machine can cause real damage.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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It was designed by architect Adolph Woerner, who was also behind the Village Theater on Clark Street and North Avenue that partially survives as a façade for a residential high-rise entryway.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
After a two-year renovation, though, very little of that incarnation survives.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
First, since no one actually knows the future, guessing, speculating, or simply making things up remains the state of the art for almost everyone involved in describing it.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Lozano’s camp remains in limbo.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The drone flies to your home, usually in about four and a half minutes.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
The route makes 18 nonstop flights that Alaska will operate in Boise, well ahead of Southwest Airlines, which flies to 10 cities nonstop.—
Kevin Fixler
May 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
As climate change delays the first winter frosts across much of North America, summer ragweed also keeps flowering longer, extending the latter part of pollen season into the fall, said David Wees, a faculty lecturer in horticulture at McGill University in Montreal.—
Keerti Gopal,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
-
Copy-on-write is an optimization technique where a system delays making a separate copy of data until it is actually changed.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
But Ho's order now halts that effective date.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
March 2 Oil and gas prices jumped during the first trading day since the strikes, as the war halts energy exports from the Middle East.—
Emma Graham,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20up. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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