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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in delay
an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business
a holdup in construction due to the weather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hold up
Allie Canal, NBC news, 12 May 2026
At the Testaments premiere, stars Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday held up Blythe versions of their characters in The Handmaid's Tale spinoff.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The most recent holdup appears to largely stem from internal divisions in the House.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
Encouragingly, consumer spending appears to be holding up, for now.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 12 May 2026
At the Testaments premiere, stars Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday held up Blythe versions of their characters in The Handmaid's Tale spinoff.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Noun
His gang reportedly was involved in at least 20 murders, 100 holdups and 150 burglaries.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The most recent holdup appears to largely stem from internal divisions in the House.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
Adding to the fire is Landry's move to postpone the House primaries in the nationwide redistricting battle -- even as absentee ballots had been returned -- while keeping the Senate race on May 16.—
Gaby Vinick,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
-
Due to heavy rains and high water levels in the Fox River in late April, the Fox Valley Park District postponed the event, set for April 25 in order to celebrate Earth Day, to May 16.—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
This $20 maxi dress is versatile enough to serve multiple occasions and seasons—and shoppers can’t stop buying multiples of them.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2026
-
Goalkeeper Isabell Ikirt stopped a shot by Oconee County’s Sydney Jackson, prompting celebration by Jefferson, but the Dragons were told Ikirt had come off the line.—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
But experts say the seesaw may be hampering efforts to reach a deal.—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
12 May 2026
-
The shadow of the Epstein scandal Starmer's government, despite a massive Labour majority in parliament, has struggled to lower the cost of living and kick start a floundering British economy — hampered albeit by the wars in Ukraine and Iran and their devastating impact on global energy prices.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
After surviving two long series to get here, the Cavaliers have a significant amount of wear and tear, which the Knicks simply don’t have.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
To survive these transformations, rich states have resorted among other things to the ever greater exploitation, not only of poor states, but also of the human and ecological capital housed within them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Burrow has dealt with injuries throughout his career but remains one of the premier talents at the position when healthy.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
But the billionaires’ tax cuts remain.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The little girl was holding her mom’s hand when the bullets started flying outside the Southern Blvd.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
For now, though, SLS is the only rocket powerful enough and certified to fly Orion to the moon.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The delays in filling housing through the city’s lottery have knock-on effects beyond the apartments not going quickly to the people who need them.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Consumers can track a package or rideshare driver in real time, yet hospitals still struggle to reliably exchange imaging studies, authorization records and clinical documentation without delays, duplication or manual intervention.—
Demetri Giannikopoulos,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The ceasefire secured the release of the remaining hostages, but the multistage plan deferred the most arduous issues, which remain unsolved.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Representatives at the New York City Fire Department deferred comment to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
