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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2
as in to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was held up for miles by the accident
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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
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
The bill passed and was signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, though it has since been held up by challenges in court.
—Jacey Fortin, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2024
CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
But intractable holdups, over who and how many people should be released from each side and over a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, prevented a deal — and that was before the latest hostage killings.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hold up 
Verb
But Erivo is holding up her commitment to protecting Grande.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
The bill passed and was signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, though it has since been held up by challenges in court.
—Jacey Fortin, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
The holdup caused a public outcry because the rule changes are intended to help the Agriculture Department stem the movement of commodities infested by pests, including coconut rhinoceros beetles.
—CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
But intractable holdups, over who and how many people should be released from each side and over a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, prevented a deal — and that was before the latest hostage killings.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hold up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hold up
Verb
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And that is why, in order to get sustainable peace, Ukraine have to get security guarantees which not provide Russia opportunity just to postpone this goal, but to make Russia impossible to achieve this goal in future.ABC NEWS, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024
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The defence team has repeatedly sought to postpone proceedings since the trial began, nearly five years ago, citing Israel's precarious defence situation since the 7 October Hamas attacks.The Week UK, theweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Prisons were uniquely bad for spreading the virus and some inmates were released in part to stop the spread.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Dec. 2024
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Some Broad Ripple Starbucks lovers woke up to a surprise Thursday morning while stopping to grab a cup of Joe.Alysa Guffey, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The search, which started the same day, was hampered by poor weather, officials reported.Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
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Meanwhile, research detailed in the MIT Sloan Management Review reveals that RTO mandates can cause a short-term lag in productivity and hamper hopes for a financial win.Jim DeLoach, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Their mother and surviving brother were among many severely injured.Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
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Brill, who now runs a monthly flea market in nearby Landers, predicted the vendors and buyers would survive.Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In the wake of Friday's news, TikTok content creators are wasting no time advising followers to find them on other platforms, as the social media app's future remains murky.Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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Meanwhile, as rescuers remain focused on nursing the Muddy River's wildlife back to health, officials are continuing their investigation into the cause of the spill.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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And didn't realize that their seven children were going to be traumatized into the therapist's couch for 10 years over the flying monkeys and the witch.Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 9 Dec. 2024
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The 30-year-old Hawaii native was flying from Maui to N.Y.C. with a connection at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Nov. 8.Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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And that means more time, which might make the delay to millions of upgrades more palatable.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
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Interstate 684 remains closed in both directions with detours in place, causing major delays around Armonk and White Plains.David Matthews, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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While Shohei Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million deal from last winter is the standard, the present-day value is around $460 million since $680 million of it is deferred.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
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Now Soto may break another one if this particular bidding war gets past the $700 million total that Ohtani got, as much of that was deferred by the Dodgers in a brilliant way of gaming the system.Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 5 Dec. 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 17 Dec. 2024.
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