1
as in postponed
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 stopped
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hampered
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 survived
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 remained
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in flew
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 held up
He's held up pretty strong, though, on immigration, which was really one of his central issues in the '24 campaign.
—
NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
The latter of those touchdowns was a 26-yard pass to Calvin Austin with 55 seconds remaining — a go-ahead score that held up as the game-winner when Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
On a day where Rams fans everywhere were chewing off their own nails, Nacua’s hands held up just fine.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
The animal's tail is usually held up, with the tip curving downward, and its legs are equally lengthened.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
The defense has thus far held up despite the attrition, but coordinator Robert Saleh must continue to plug the holes.
—Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
This will ensure your toiletries are properly proportioned every time, so you won’t get held up at security.
—Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
The reality television alum held up her hand to debut her diamond ring while sitting beside her fiancé.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
All regimes are held up by pillars of support.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for held up
Verb
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John Mulaney has postponed three upcoming shows in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.—
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Thursday night's Bulls game against the Miami Heat at the United Center was postponed due to condensation on the court.—
Verb
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Ross, who was one of several federal agents involved in the arrest, initially drew his service weapon, but holstered the gun after Muñoz-Guatemala stopped his car and raised his hands, according to the affidavit.—
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Braddy stopped the car, got Quantisha back inside, and put Shandelle in the trunk, before driving for 30 to 45 minutes.—
Verb
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This isn’t the first time injuries have hampered Norfleet.—
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All of these issues combined have left Target with a workforce that has grown faster than sales and a complex corporate structure that has hampered decision-making and created needless red tape.—
Verb
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Ewing never married or had children, but is survived by other family members, per Extra.—
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Despite the rest of the royal family being executed, their eldest daughter, Marie-Thérèse, survived.—
Verb
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He was booked into the jail in July and remained in the jail with a bond set at $50,000, according to court records.—
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Traffic concerns remained a prominent theme of the more than 100 emails the city received in early December, but many people expressed excitement at the prospect of a closer Costco.—
Verb
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Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes.—
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Several school districts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have delayed the start of classes Wednesday because of the freezing rain and icy roads.—
Verb
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De Blasio halted the successful Bloomberg initiatives and wasted hundreds of millions of dollars on efforts to improve failing schools rather than replacing them.—
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Between March 2020 and September 2023, loan repayments were halted, offering borrowers a period of relief as the pandemic caused economic challenges, leaving many without income and job loss.—
Verb
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Historically, the water’s purity was singular, giving life to a watershed that flourished because of a unique paucity of nutrients, a situation that hindered the pursuit of any single species that would dominate the rest.—
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Normally, scent voices are mere whispers compared to the screams and angry shouts of humans, but in that section, certain sensitive plant species shrieked incessantly because of their proximity to plants that hindered their growth.—
Cite this Entry
“Held up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/held%20up. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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