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 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
Similarly, Alphabet’s rally can remain on track so long as earnings growth holds up.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
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
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
Similarly, Alphabet’s rally can remain on track so long as earnings growth holds up.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds up
Verb
-
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
-
At a Friday court hearing for the family’s asylum case, a judge granted a continuance, which postpones the case to a later date, family attorney Danielle Molliver told CNN.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For this reason, Yuen added, humidifiers can be particularly helpful for people who have a cold, asthma, or obstructive sleep apnea, which is when breathing starts and stops during sleep due to airway obstruction.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Additional stops to the itinerary are dropped and added at will.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 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,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As forewarned, Cuoco's Nancy Drew-esque paleontologist Alice Monroe survives the four-part action series in France and is reunited with her missing boyfriend, the suspiciously-perfect humanitarian Tom Parker (Sam Claflin).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
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Carved from a single log, its existence rarely survives as the coffin was made of wood, but the wet, humid environment ended up preserving it, giving modern-day viewers an unprecedented look at a rare wooden Roman-era coffin.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The program currently remains in another legal battle, with people able to renew their status but no new applications accepted.—
Mathew Miranda
February 26,
Sacbee.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The military remains Pakistan’s most powerful institution, having solidified its dominance throughout the country’s history with coups and constitutional amendments.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Delta Air Lines currently flies to Memphis, while Allegiant Air serves Knoxville.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
-
More large-scale battles are teased — including what appears to be the iconic Battle of the Gullet, where Rhaenyra’s son Jace flies his dragon against House Velaryon’s navy.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The investment committee approved the change on Tuesday, which also delays Maersk’s job development investment grant.—
Brian Gordon,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
-
What happens if the city delays?—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mecklenburg District Attorney Spencer Merriweather and defense attorneys agreed, in separate interviews with The Charlotte Observer, that the strategy halts cases and could jeopardize justice.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Court order halts leadership committee activity The temporary restraining order effectively stops Jones' leadership committee from raising or spending any funds for his campaign while the case moves forward.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20up. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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