Hold up — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb

Meaning & Definition of Hold up

Hold up (verb)

  1. to rob at gunpoint
  2. delay, impede
  3. to call attention to, single out

Hold up (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to assign to a later time

    "held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address"

    similar: defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, lay over, postpone, put off, put over, remit, shelve
    related: suspend, hesitate, pause, stay, detain, retard, slow, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch (out), wait
    near: act, deal (with), decide (upon), do, work (on)

  2. to bring (something) to a standstill

    "traffic was held up for miles by the accident"

    similar: arrest, bring up, catch, check, draw up, fetch up, halt, pull up, stall, stay, still, stop
    related: baffle, balk, block, blockade, bottleneck, clog, dam, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, obstruct, snag, stem, conclude, cut off, end, terminate, call, discontinue, suspend, choke off, rein (in), repress, squash, squelch, stanch, stunt, suppress, turn back
    near: carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep (on), keep up, persist, run on, advance, fare, go along, march, move, proceed, progress, wend, actuate, budge, drive, goad, impel, propel, push, spur, stir

  3. 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"

    similar: clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel, cramp one's style, give a hard time
    related: balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain, bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie, arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard, barricade, block, blockade, roadblock, bog (down), mire, choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate, baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart, derail, disrupt, sabotage, muzzle, repress, suppress, confine, hedge (in), hem (in)
    opposite: aid, assist, facilitate, help
    near: clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop, free, liberate, release, untie, loosen, smooth, encourage, further, promote

  4. 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"

    similar: hold out, keep up, last, prevail, survive
    related: bear up, carry on, cope, endure, fare, get along, get by, get on, go, hang in, make out, manage, persevere, abide, continue, draw out, hang on, hold on, linger, persist, remain, run on, stretch
    opposite: fail, fizzle, give out, go out, peter (out), run out
    near: break, break down, collapse, conk (out), crash, cut out, die, expire, stall, stop, run down, wane

  5. 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"

    similar: abide, bide, continue, endure, hold on, keep up, last, perdure, persist, remain, run on
    related: linger, stay, stick around, tarry, carry through, prevail, survive
    opposite: cease, close, conclude, desist, die, discontinue, end, expire, finish, lapse, leave off, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up
    near: abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane

  6. to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval

    "an argument that won't hold up in court"

    similar: fly, pass, stand up, wash, hold water, pass muster
    related: get through, go down, go over, go through, play, take, work

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hold up

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hold up:

defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, lay over, postpone, put off, put over, remit, shelve, arrest, bring up, catch, check, draw up, fetch up, halt, pull up, stall, stay, still, stop, clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, hamper, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hold up

Words with the opposite meaning of Hold up:

aid, assist, facilitate, help, fail, fizzle, give out, go out, peter (out), run out, cease, close, conclude, desist, die, discontinue, end, expire, finish, lapse, leave off, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up

Related Words for Hold up

suspend, hesitate, pause, detain, retard, slow, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch (out), wait, baffle, balk, block, blockade, bottleneck, dam, hold, snag, stem, conclude, cut off, end, terminate, call, discontinue, choke off, rein (in), repress

Near Antonyms of Hold up

act, deal (with), decide (upon), do, work (on), carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep (on), keep up, persist, run on, advance, fare, go along, march, move, proceed, progress, wend, actuate, budge, drive, goad, impel, propel, push, spur, stir, clear

Word Forms of Hold up

Inflections: held up, holding up, holds up

Origin & Etymology of Hold up

First known use: 1851t

Words & Phrases Containing Hold up

hold up one's head

Frequently Asked Questions about Hold up

What does "Hold up" mean?

"Hold up" means to rob at gunpoint. As a verb, it is defined as: to rob at gunpoint. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hold up"?

Other words for "Hold up" include defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, lay over, postpone, put off and put over. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hold up" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hold up"?

There are 160 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hold up". Common alternatives include defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, lay over, postpone, put off, put over, remit and shelve.

What is the opposite of "Hold up"?

Antonyms of "Hold up" include aid, assist, facilitate, help, fail, fizzle, give out and go out. Near antonyms include act, deal (with), decide (upon) and do.

How do you use "Hold up" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hold up" in a sentence: "held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address"; "traffic was held up for miles by the accident"; "if lack of transportation is the only thing holding you up, I can give you a ride".

Is "Hold up" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hold up" is a verb.

What is the origin of the word "Hold up"?

First known use: 1851t.

What is another word for "Hold up" meaning "to assign to a later time"?

When "Hold up" (verb) means to assign to a later time, synonyms include defer, delay, hold off (on), hold over, lay over and postpone.