1
as in to postpone
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 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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
The video cuts to Epenesa and his crew holding up the big snake.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 30 June 2025
To help travelers avoid traffic holdups, AAA teamed up with S&P Global Market Intelligence and put together a handy guide laying out the best and worst times to hit the road.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
Meanwhile, Hobart Fire Chief Enrique Lopez offered tours of the city’s new dive truck that can hold up to 10 divers and their gear.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
The video cuts to Epenesa and his crew holding up the big snake.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
Patrick Agyemang got the start at striker and was able to provide good holdup play and off-ball movement, but struggled to threaten Costa Rica’s defense with scoring opportunities.
—Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 30 June 2025
To help travelers avoid traffic holdups, AAA teamed up with S&P Global Market Intelligence and put together a handy guide laying out the best and worst times to hit the road.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
However, due to unforeseen delays, the transaction is postponed.—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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And in China, the premiere of a film about this gruesome episode in history was postponed without explanation, causing an online outcry.—
Anthony Kuhn,
NPR,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
As the truck was coming to a stop, a passenger in the front seat got out and ran from the vehicle, which stopped a short distance later.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Aug. 2025
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After that the Padres, out of nowhere, just stopped hitting.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Aug. 2025
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After a development process allegedly hampered by a myriad of technical issues, Alexa+ started rolling out to users' Amazon Echo devices earlier this year, albeit with a limited feature set compared to Amazon's final vision for the product.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This mindset positions enterprises not only to survive technological disruptions but also to lead confidently through ongoing evolution.—
Holger Reisinger,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Serafini did shoot Spohr dead that day after laying in wait at the couple's $3.5 million home for hours, but Wood managed to survive despite being shot twice in the head at point blank range.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The love remained even as Alonso tested free agency for the first time last winter.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Kenwood’s program will remain the same, but Western’s will change to a Building Construction Management magnet, which will expose students to different areas of construction trades, such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing and carpentry.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The rumble of the engines set off car alarms in the distance as ULA opened up its national security account for Vulcan, making only its third ever launch after flying two certification flights in 2024.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
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Firefighting helicopters on various occasions scooped up water from the lake when fighting wildfires instead of flying farther away.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The story of the day will largely be that weather delay and the seemingly avoidable circumstances around it.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
17 Aug. 2025
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The manager keeps coming up with new delays and excuses why this basic amenity has been ignored.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Student loans can be deferred while enrolled at least half-time.—
Adam Palasciano,
CNBC,
4 Aug. 2025
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Owners had a little over two and a half years to prepare to make up for years or decades of reserve savings and critical structural repairs that many associations had deferred.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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