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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
It’s prized for sculpting a high-definition lip that holds up under the harshest red-carpet lighting.
—
Micaela English, Glamour, 30 Apr. 2026
Parking, Passes and the Resort Math Standard parking is $25 per day for a regular-sized car, and the lot holds up to 10,000 cars.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Parking Costs and the Resort Shuttle Dollywood’s parking lot holds up to 10,000 cars, and standard parking runs $25 per day for a regular-sized car.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
If Greenlaw holds up physically — always a concern — that’s likely more than the 49ers wanted to pay for a reserve.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
If the line holds up and Kohl and Gaines are as good as advertised, the Panthers could be dangerous.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
One notable feature is the hidden bit storage compartment, which includes a magnetic base that holds up to four standard S2 bits for a total of six in the entire multitool – the original Joat stored just two.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
If the forecast high of 91 holds up, that would be about 15 degrees warmer than normal and would match the daily record for March 20 set exactly 50 years ago in 1976.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Whether that outlook holds up likely will depend on how things play out in the Middle East.
—Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
Micaela English, Glamour, 30 Apr. 2026
Parking, Passes and the Resort Math Standard parking is $25 per day for a regular-sized car, and the lot holds up to 10,000 cars.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Parking Costs and the Resort Shuttle Dollywood’s parking lot holds up to 10,000 cars, and standard parking runs $25 per day for a regular-sized car.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
If Greenlaw holds up physically — always a concern — that’s likely more than the 49ers wanted to pay for a reserve.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
If the line holds up and Kohl and Gaines are as good as advertised, the Panthers could be dangerous.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
One notable feature is the hidden bit storage compartment, which includes a magnetic base that holds up to four standard S2 bits for a total of six in the entire multitool – the original Joat stored just two.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2026
If the forecast high of 91 holds up, that would be about 15 degrees warmer than normal and would match the daily record for March 20 set exactly 50 years ago in 1976.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Whether that outlook holds up likely will depend on how things play out in the Middle East.
—Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holds up
Verb
-
The Defense secretary said the ceasefire postpones the deadline for securing such approval.—
Ben Finley,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This is equally true of society, and disregarding this truth only postpones the moment of reckoning.—
Alec Nevala-Lee,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The single item that stops new projects is when the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) is required, with a set-aside of 20% of the units to be rented at below market prices.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
And that’s where the problem stops being technical and starts being structural.—
The AI Insider,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It was designed by architect Adolph Woerner, who was also behind the Village Theater on Clark Street and North Avenue that partially survives as a façade for a residential high-rise entryway.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
After a two-year renovation, though, very little of that incarnation survives.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Standardized test scores have trended upward since the nadir of the COVID-19 pandemic, recovering faster than the state average, but the pace remains too incremental for critics.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Sources told Variety at the time that Marvel plans to keep a small visual development team, hiring people on a project by project basis, and remains committed to working with visual development artists on its projects.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Vertical flies under an arrangement that has been accumulating evidence toward certification for three years.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The National Guard unit flies F-16 Fighting Falcon jet aircraft.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Frey vetoed the ordinance, arguing that an eviction pause does not actually provide relief and only delays an inevitable problem.—
Aki Nace,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The plan also maintains full scope Medi-Cal for asylees and other immigrant groups who were cut out of Medicaid by the federal government and delays Medi-Cal premiums for undocumented immigrants that would otherwise begin on July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
March 2 Oil and gas prices jumped during the first trading day since the strikes, as the war halts energy exports from the Middle East.—
Emma Graham,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Weather Extremes While snapdragons prefer cool weather, extreme cold, especially a late freeze, halts blooming until temperatures warm.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Holds up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holds%20up. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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