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
Meyer's vivid descriptions paint a harrowing picture that holds up just as well as the film version's finale scenes.
—
USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
New to the service this month is the excellent 1983 adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, a masterpiece of all-ages horror that still holds up today.
—PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
Whole milk comes out thick and lush, like the classic cappuccino topping, while oat milk holds up surprisingly well, too—creamy and stable instead of watery.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
In practice, standardization rarely holds up.
—Kathleen Hurley, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
This double-wide camp chair is quilted and comfortable, with durable 600D polyester fabric that holds up to weather, spills, and even a slobbery dog (or two) climbing aboard.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Despite the show’s late 1800s backdrop, much of the material still holds up today, from Laura’s (Melissa Gilbert) teen angst to heavy storylines involving topics like grief, spirituality, addiction, and more.
—Kelly Martinez, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
While McGuire went without prosthetics, for example, Young’s war-scarred face is expertly executed — realistic and restrained, with detail that holds up to scrutiny even in the new Blu-ray’s razor-sharp imagery.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025
With the right tools and a little practice, anyone can achieve a glossy, long-lasting manicure that holds up for up to two—sometimes even three—weeks.
—Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 11 Aug. 2025
USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
New to the service this month is the excellent 1983 adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, a masterpiece of all-ages horror that still holds up today.
—PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
Whole milk comes out thick and lush, like the classic cappuccino topping, while oat milk holds up surprisingly well, too—creamy and stable instead of watery.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
In practice, standardization rarely holds up.
—Kathleen Hurley, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
This double-wide camp chair is quilted and comfortable, with durable 600D polyester fabric that holds up to weather, spills, and even a slobbery dog (or two) climbing aboard.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Despite the show’s late 1800s backdrop, much of the material still holds up today, from Laura’s (Melissa Gilbert) teen angst to heavy storylines involving topics like grief, spirituality, addiction, and more.
—Kelly Martinez, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
While McGuire went without prosthetics, for example, Young’s war-scarred face is expertly executed — realistic and restrained, with detail that holds up to scrutiny even in the new Blu-ray’s razor-sharp imagery.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2025
With the right tools and a little practice, anyone can achieve a glossy, long-lasting manicure that holds up for up to two—sometimes even three—weeks.
—Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds up
Verb
-
Scripps continues to pursue a strategy that focuses on the northern parts of San Diego County and postpones reconstruction plans for Scripps Mercy Hospital, which operates sister campuses in Hillcrest and Chula Vista.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The panel’s decision postpones the effective dates of TPS terminations directed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
That’s also why the artist chose not to include any United States stops on his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour over concerns about potential ICE raids at his concerts.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
-
After getting blown up by a double-team block on a passing play, Ray bounced back and made a pair of run stops around the line of scrimmage over the span of just four plays.—
Mike Kaye
October 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Yet, there’s still that debt that hampers investment.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
-
His lack of strength also hampers him on defense.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Annette Gordon-Reed’s The Hemingses of Monticello (2008) made Sally Hemings, from whom not a word survives, a figure crucial to understanding the workings of power in the early American republic.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Apart from the rare individual that survives and develops immunity, symptomatic deer will succumb to EHD within 36 hours.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With more than 600 million copies of the books sold worldwide, and everything related to them continuing to do well years after the initial release of the books, one wonders how this series remains popular despite the deluge of young adult novels (and controversy) that followed it.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
12 Oct. 2025
-
At this time, there is no information on the containment of the fire and the cause of it remains undetermined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That screen is super crisp, the A16 processor just flies, and having Center Stage in your video calls makes sure you are always seen.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
7 Oct. 2025
-
When one drone flies directly above another, the downward airflow from its propellers creates strong turbulence.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These early shifts—less COVID vaccination; fewer options for flu, MMR, and chickenpox vaccines; and, perhaps soon, delays to the hepatitis-B schedule—may seem benign enough.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Too much light in the evening — that extra hour from daylight saving time — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.—
Jeremy Tanner,
The Hill,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For one day only, vehicle traffic halts on the 3,031-foot-long bridge and pedestrians stream across.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The best-cooling cases often reach that mark by spinning up their fans to annoyingly noisy levels, but the MasterFrame 600 halts that trend by having the third-quietest (or fourth-noisiest) sound pressure level of our test lot.—
Thomas Soderstrom,
PC Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Holds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20up. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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