hole up

Definition of hole upnext
as in to hide
to remain out of sight we'll hole up in the cellar and wait out the hurricane

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 hole up Chicago police have ended an hourslong standoff in Logan Square with someone holed up inside a residence that began Monday afternoon and stretched into the overnight hours Tuesday. Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026 The week before Christmas 2025, five mathematicians were holed up in a classroom at ETH Zurich. Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 The department also shared photos of an armored vehicle outside the home, where the suspect was holed up for several hours before he was taken into custody. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Once their picks were narrowed to 10 (or 15 for the performers), a group of 500 panelists holed up in the org’s North Hollywood headquarters to watch episodes and choose the eventual nominees. Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hole up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hole up
Verb
  • Cuts to public agencies have coincided with outbreaks of infectious and foodborne diseases, to the point that the administration is trying to manipulate numbers to hide measles deaths.
    Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The restaurant is also available for private-dining bookings with a room that can instantly tint its glass, hiding diners with the flip of a switch.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Surging Treasury yields have rattled Wall Street, but there may also be an opportunity lurking for income investors to turn a profit.
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • For more than a century, astronomers have been captivated by the idea that an undiscovered planet could be lurking in the furthest reaches of our solar system.
    Micah Hanks, Space.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Here, in this image of an ingenious skidding kitten—in both its brutality and its beautiful, dumb, playful resilience—lies the wisdom of Marcon’s art.
    Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
  • In South Africa’s northernmost province, under a cavernous expanse of jagged gray rock, lies a mineral treasure trove that could play a pivotal role in the country’s relationship with global superpowers.
    Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hole up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hole%20up. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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