1
as in to postpone
to assign to a later time
held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address
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Relevance
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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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of hold up
David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
Over time, these might not hold up as well as some other options on this list, particularly for people who have pets that sleep in their beds.
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2024
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2024
If the contract holdup continues for multiple weeks, some Louisville and Kentucky fans may be left in the dark whenever a game airs on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and the ACC and SEC networks.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hold up 
Verb
Tony Awards are game changers, but does the show still hold up a few years later?
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
Over time, these might not hold up as well as some other options on this list, particularly for people who have pets that sleep in their beds.
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
The holdup had been the band’s frontman, Stephen Malkmus, who didn’t want a traditional documentary or a movie with a screenplay.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2024
If the contract holdup continues for multiple weeks, some Louisville and Kentucky fans may be left in the dark whenever a game airs on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and the ACC and SEC networks.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
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Thanks to to novel coronavirus global pandemic, Hugh Jackman’s The Music Man is postponed to spring 2021.Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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Gallant was scheduled to meet with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in Washington in early October — a trip Gallant initiated — but it was postponed at Netanyahu’s request.Max Burman, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Donations dwindle, while volunteers from the opposite side of the country stop coming or divert to another disaster.Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
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Johnny can’t stop holding onto his baggage with Kreese, but Daniel is dealing with something even bigger.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But it has not been shut down or hampered by government action even under Biden, and the new Trump administration likely also won’t take any action against it.CNN.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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The massive pier project was hampered by unexpected bad weather and security issues, as well as persistent safety issues involving Israeli forces that prompted aid agencies to halt distribution of the supplies out of fear of being injured and killed.Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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He is survived by his daughter Heather Edwards, brother Bill, and a granddaughter, as well as another daughter, Sallie Edwards, who told the New York Times that complications from a stroke were the cause of his death.Michael Savio, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
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Without Curry, the team was able to survive behind strong performances from guard Buddy Hield and forward Jonathan Kuminga.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Copied Share Eagles miss another kick Rohan Nadkarni Jake Elliott missed a 51-yard kick, and the score remains 7-0 Commanders.Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
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Whether these sweeping changes will be enough to turn the tide remains a point of debate among experts.Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
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And Americans who have flown private before are three times more likely to trust private pilots over commercial ones.Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
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In December, the developers flew Smith, Owens and an unidentified witness to Florida on a private jet for a meeting on a yacht.Bracey Harris, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
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PCMag spoke to one reservation holder who cancelled their preorder after learning of the launch delay, unwilling to further delay their car purchase.Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
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Osborne said the delay at the Etris Community Center was roughly an hour, and voters were forced to wait outside until law enforcement officers cleared the building.Chris Boyette, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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After the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, reviewed the national security implications of the sale, the Biden administration deferred a decision until after the election.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
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In 2023, only 14% of employees deferred the maximum amount into 401(k) plans, according to Vanguard’s 2024 How America Saves report, which included data from 1,500 qualified plans and nearly 5 million participants.Kate Dore, CFP®, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hold up
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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