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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
The photo of Trump holding up the edited image in the Oval Office is still live on the president’s Truth Social and Instagram pages.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Owen Tedford, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The only holdup with this trade is the fact that the Cardinals already have a decent bit of pitching in their farm system.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Verb
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman also called on Duffy to intervene this week, holding up the L train reconstruction as a model.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
The photo of Trump holding up the edited image in the Oval Office is still live on the president’s Truth Social and Instagram pages.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
However, the holdup on congressional action is a lack of input from the White House, which could also opt to act unilaterally to revise existing outbound investment regulations.
—Owen Tedford, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
The only holdup with this trade is the fact that the Cardinals already have a decent bit of pitching in their farm system.
—Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
-
Therefore the May revise, as it’s dubbed, is likely to contain even more expedient fixes that may postpone the day of fiscal reckoning until Newsom’s governorship ends two years hence but will continue to plague his successor and the Legislature.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
9 May 2025
-
Weather or unforeseen circumstances could postpone the closures, the releases state.—
Gael Langdon,
Arkansas Online,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
Angelo must stop whoever’s coming for his family by searching his past hits for clues, and the list is very long.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
12 May 2025
-
One day, a man named Harold McPherson stopped to answer her, and not long after, the two married.—
Dorothy Fortenberry,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 May 2025
-
Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 May 2025
Verb
-
The species is endangered, and infants require constant, skilled care to survive.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2025
-
Death then seeks vengeance, since none of the students were supposed to survive the crash.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
17 May 2025
Verb
-
Where to Watch Marvel's 'Thunderbolts*' Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* remains in theaters following its May 2 release.—
Jenna deJong,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
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Meanwhile, the baseline 10% tariff Trump announced April 2 will remain in effect for most U.K. imports, which could lead to higher prices for consumers.—
Bailey Schulz,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
An asteroid the size of a football stadium will fly safely by Earth on Friday, May 9, 2025, 23 years after its discovery.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
-
The shutting down of airports was potentially embarrassing for Moscow, as delegations from countries that have remained friendly to Russia were flying in to attend the parade on Friday.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
8 May 2025
Noun
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After months of delays, a resentencing hearing to determine whether the Menendez brothers should be released from prison after serving more than three decades is set to begin Tuesday.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
-
However, the case has been marked by a series of delays after his first trial ended in a hung jury.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
Commissioners deferred the vote on the plan to June 9 over landscaping concerns.—
Catherine Muccigrosso,
Charlotte Observer,
16 May 2025
-
And when Ohtani became a free agent, Moreno could have said yes to the same terms the Dodgers did — 10 years, $700 million, with all but $20 million deferred.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hold up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hold%20up. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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