holing up

Definition of holing upnext
present participle of hole up
as in lurking
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 holing up But after holing up Sunday in his apartment 90 steps from the beach in the historic Zona Romantica, Eure was ready to venture outside. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026 Amir and Miri share their memories of holing up in a lightless, airless concrete room with two children under the age of 5, trying desperately to remain quiet. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025 Now teens were holing up in garages across America in an attempt to create their own versions of the Fab Four. Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025 And at the very least, Damour said, kids won’t get a chance to develop the habit of holing up in their bedroom with their phone and never coming out. Rheana Murray, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holing up
Verb
  • The fungi are already lurking in your soil, just waiting for enough moisture to go into action.
    David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 28 May 2026
  • Every day for more than 30 years, NASA's iconic Hubble Space Telescope has plumbed the cosmos to unveil secrets and wonders lurking in every corner of the universe.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Howard’s eagle eyes spotted so many animals hiding in the bush and from great distances.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
  • However, the Knicks have done a good job of hiding him.
    David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • The hair strand is lying flat on the scalp because there’s buildup weighing it down.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
  • There’s a lot of stuff still lying around from a long time ago.
    Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Holing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holing%20up. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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