1
as in to postpone
to assign to a later time
held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to hamper
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to survive
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to remain
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
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6
as in to fly
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
an argument that won't hold up in court
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as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
a holdup in construction due to the weather
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold up
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
The Tigers also let up a fair share of explosive run plays despite the front seven holding up well.
—Chase Gemes, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Roy indicated there was progress in assessing leadership’s plan on how to handle spending after conversations on the House floor during the holdup.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
They’re topped with just the right amount of melty American cheese and a bright dijon mustard sauce on a sturdy brioche bun that holds up to the juiciness.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
The Tigers also let up a fair share of explosive run plays despite the front seven holding up well.
—Chase Gemes, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Whose idea was this, and what kinds of settler-colonial relations does this mock holdup invert?
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Roy indicated there was progress in assessing leadership’s plan on how to handle spending after conversations on the House floor during the holdup.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
The official inauguration, originally scheduled for July 3, 2025, was postponed to the last quarter of the year due to regional conflicts.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Reneé Rapp has postponed the final two Bite Me Tour dates due to illness.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The former instantly adds a second layer of security against unwanted guests, and the latter emits an ultra-loud alarm while acting like a door stop wedge, scaring off any stranger who tries to enter your room.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
-
And Los Angeles did not stop there.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Laboratory testing capacities at the CDC and expert guidance to analyze local trends may also be hampered during the shutdown, experts say.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To survive, universities must reclaim their calling as moral and intellectual lighthouses, standing firm against intimidation, complacency and fear.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Apple computers have come with text-editing software since the original Mac was released, in 1984; the current iteration of the program launched in the mid-nineties and has survived relatively unchanged.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Still, the project adds another exclusive tier to a venue already marked by VIP enclaves, raising questions about how much of COTA’s most distinctive real estate will remain truly accessible — and for how long.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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But its 60-table card room, tucked into a low-key design, remained.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Alaska is the fifth largest US airline and flies 44 million passengers each year to 120 destinations in five countries, accoring to its website.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
As a defender in the English Premier League for 12 years, Higginbotham rarely had to fly.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
What To Know Propel surveyed 2,463 active SNAP users between October 20 and 21, 2025, to assess how a potential delay in SNAP payments would impact them.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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On Friday evening, airports in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego were reporting delays because of staffing issues, and the Federal Aviation Administration warned that staffing problems were also possible at airports in the New York area, Dallas and Philadelphia.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Any doubts about the team’s decision should be deferred after what Williams put on display against the Commanders.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Oct. 2025
-
But Ohtani did, showing everyone why the Dodgers were willing to pay him $700 million over 10 years, with $680 million of that money deferred.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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