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
Its dual anti-tangle brush assembly prevents hair clogs, while a self-emptying base holds up to seven weeks of debris.
—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
30 June 2026
If the North American forecast holds up, Minions & Monsters is looking at a $170M global weekend.
—
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
30 June 2026
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
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
30 June 2026
If the North American forecast holds up, Minions & Monsters is looking at a $170M global weekend.
—
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
30 June 2026
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
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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Santorini stops being only a view and starts behaving like a place again.
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Workforce needs, customer expectations, and business conditions evolve, and leaders have to be willing to adjust if the model stops delivering results.
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.
-
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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The source also described an incident involving a helicopter pilot who regularly flies to a residence in the restricted zone.
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Opportunities worth fighting for Esters, a 64-year-old retired clay sculptor for a Detroit automaker, flies three American flags at his Sherwood Forest home on the city’s west side.
Verb
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The deal also delays the elimination of dental help for undocumented adults a year later than Newsom proposed.
-
Extending careers delays workforce loss but does not address long-term demographic trends or the inevitability of workforce transition.
Verb
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The countywide legislation halts zoning and permitting processes for data centers and BESS sites in unincorporated areas of Jackson County for 180 days, which sponsor Sean Smith and other legislators have said will create time for the county to set more detailed permanent land use policies.
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But the publishing machine never quite halts, and the coming months do star a (smaller) collection of exciting new releases.
Cite this Entry
“Holds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20up. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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