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
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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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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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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
Josh Fellman, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2025
The final snap in the carousel also showed two mugs printed with photos of Stause and G Flip being held up.
—Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
But paperwork holdups, including slower-than-expected FBI background checks, could get in the way of that time frame.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
Jobs numbers have been mixed, but retail sales and industrial production have held up while business sentiment craters.
—Josh Fellman, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2025
The final snap in the carousel also showed two mugs printed with photos of Stause and G Flip being held up.
—Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
A day after a second exchange of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, the holdup underlined the risks hanging over the truce between the militant group and Israel, longtime adversaries in a series of Gaza wars.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2025
But paperwork holdups, including slower-than-expected FBI background checks, could get in the way of that time frame.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
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Schumer, who leads the Democrats in the Senate minority, postponed his book tour after facing outrage from the Democratic base for supporting a Republican spending bill.—
Kyle Khan-Mullins,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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But Libby's amendments were not even considered, and Democrats moved to have the amendments indefinitely postponed.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Here are 3 reasons why leaders – political as well as corporate – should stop talking about themselves and others as players in a game.—
Pia Lauritzen,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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Survivor host Jeff Probst explains why show stopped doing schoolyard picks to determine tribes Blind ambition Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Both Iran and North Korea could then use Russian nuclear and missile technology to develop advanced weapons that would hamper the U.S. military’s response options in East Asia and the Middle East—and even threaten the American homeland.—
Christopher S. Chivvis,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Mar. 2025
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Over recent weeks, CISA employees, all speaking on the condition of anonymity, had told Forbes morale was low and concerns were high that important work was being hampered by the cuts.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Preserved pollen grains and other spores told them about the diversity of plant life in the refugium, something like an oasis where there is food and water available, and environmental conditions are moderate enough to keep organisms surviving through natural disasters and other adverse conditions.—
Elizabeth Rayne,
Ars Technica,
18 Mar. 2025
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While the pandemic created a boom of direct-to-consumer brands that struggled to survive post-COVID, Almada has not only endured but flourished in the changing e-commerce landscape.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Now, only one question remains: Who will play JFK Jr.?—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
22 Mar. 2025
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For utility executives, the complication of rising power demand remains top of mind.—
Justin Worland/Houston,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Deportations fly in the face of judicial orders, careening the country toward a constitutional crisis.—
Brian Barrett,
WIRED,
21 Mar. 2025
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Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and a host of other issues, especially when flying.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The delay, prompted by an issue with the launchpad’s ground system, further hindered the return of the two NASA astronauts who in June flew to the space station aboard the troubled Starliner.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
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Staff reductions of this magnitude risk prolonging processing delays and increasing wait times for taxpayer support—disproportionately harming working families who rely on prompt refunds and accessible services.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This, even after Trump opted to defer his initial 25-percent duties on Canadian products until early April.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
12 Mar. 2025
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Over 100 employees at the Office of Federal Student Aid accepted buyouts in February as part of a Trump administration deferred resignation program, draining the department of experienced staff when borrowers need help the most.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
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