as in lurking
to remain out of sight
we'll hole up in the cellar and wait out the hurricane
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
-
Unbeknownst to its more than 800 members, Flod had been lurking in the public group for years, silently celebrating each new mention of Pinky.
-
Messi, Mbappe and Kane will battle for this award, although Dembele is lurking, too.
Verb
-
The country’s singular role in hiding Jews from their Nazi occupiers is well documented.
-
The anti-Trump rage, the surge of younger, more educated progressive voters, the hunger for someone willing to fight on affordability with policy, message, and tone, in Albany and Washington — all of it was hiding in plain sight for anyone looking at the data rather than the tired, old playbook.
Verb
-
For some perplexing reason, Gia has decided to die on the hill that Ava is lying, despite having no way to prove that and despite the fact that Ava has no reason to lie.
-
Anderson is one of the best deep-lying ball-players in the Premier League right now.
Cite this Entry
“Holing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holing%20up. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
