1
as in postpones
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 stops
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hampers
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 survives
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 remains
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 flies
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
an argument that won't hold up in court
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of holds up
This teapot holds up to 32 ounces of liquid.
—
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
As wind continues to pound the camp, a wooden pole delicately holds up the tarpaulin keeping him dry.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Similarly, Alphabet’s rally can remain on track so long as earnings growth holds up.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
Meyer's vivid descriptions paint a harrowing picture that holds up just as well as the film version's finale scenes.
—USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
New to the service this month is the excellent 1983 adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, a masterpiece of all-ages horror that still holds up today.
—PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
Whole milk comes out thick and lush, like the classic cappuccino topping, while oat milk holds up surprisingly well, too—creamy and stable instead of watery.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
In practice, standardization rarely holds up.
—Kathleen Hurley, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The sturdy steel frame holds up to 650 pounds, while the insulated cup holders cool and keep drinks within reach.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds up
Verb
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At best, the push postpones the cross-medium renaissance Hollywood has been predicting for more than 30 years.—
-
Jeff Bezos' company postpones New Glenn launch New Glenn was fueled up and vertical on the launch pad ahead of an impending launch before Blue Origin ultimately called it off about 90 minutes after the window opened.—
Verb
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The team that stops the run and mitigates mistakes will win this one.—
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The group stops to talk to one who took a fall while riding his bike in his neighborhood.—
Verb
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Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
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Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
Verb
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The Creature, who longs for death, attempts to blow itself up with that dynamite, but survives the blast.—
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Government agencies and businesses that invest in this training, and that insist every critical number survives a deterministic check, will capture AI's benefits without stumbling into its blind spots.—
Verb
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The Henderson County Sheriff's Office remains committed to seeking justice for victims and their families—no matter how much time has passed.—
-
One year after two major wildfires tore through opposite sides of Los Angeles County, recovery for thousands of families remains far from complete.—
Verb
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So instead, to keep costs down and power up, the Starcloud satellite flies what is known as a dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbit, circling the planet at a near vertical 83° angle that carries it over the poles and keeps it almost constantly exposed to the sun.—
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Across the canyon, flames leapt up the Paseo Miramar trail, still two miles away as the crow flies, but already too close to ignore.—
Verb
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Defenses applied the same concepts, too, emphasizing full-court pressure, which delays the opposing attack.—
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The order specifically delays a 30% duty on upholstered furniture and 50% levy on kitchen cabinets and vanities, keeping in place a 25% tariff on those goods that was imposed back in September.—
Verb
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The order temporarily halts enforcement of the law on cruise ships while the appeals process moves forward, her email noted.—
-
Judge halts end of deportation protections for South Sudanese.—
Cite this Entry
“Holds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20up. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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