verb
Meaning 1
To wait or delay.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, intransitive
Examples
- Hold up a minute. I want to check something.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hold on, hang on
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
hold up
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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verb
Meaning 2
To impede; detain.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- I've got to get to work now. Why are you holding me up?
- What is holding up traffic?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To impede; detain.
To detain by threatening, usually with a weapon, in order to commit robbery.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, transitive
Examples
- The guy tried to hold up a bank.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: stick up
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To support or lift.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- Hold up the table while I slide this underneath.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To support or lift.
To highlight, as if lifting up for display.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
Examples
- His lectures held up Napoleon as an example of the phenomenon.
- held up for public ridicule
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To support or lift.
To fulfil or complete one's part of an agreement.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, transitive
Examples
- I don't think he's holding up his end of the bargain.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To persist.
To withstand; to stand up to; to survive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, intransitive
Examples
- hold up to scrutiny
- hold up to heavy use
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
To persist.
To keep up; not to fall behind; not to lose ground.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 9
To persist.
To maintain composure despite hardship.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, intransitive
Examples
- how're you holdin up?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 10
To persist.
To continue to be seen as favorable, to avoid seeming dated.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
- Bride of Frankenstein is an old film, but it holds up.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 11
cause to be slowed down or delayed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Traffic was delayed by the bad weather
- she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: delay, detain
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: decelerate, slow, slow down, slow up, retard
Narrower terms: stonewall, catch, stall, buy time
verb
Meaning 12
be the physical support of; carry the weight of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The beam holds up the roof
- He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
- What's holding that mirror?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hold, support, sustain
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: scaffold, block, carry, chock, buoy, buoy up, pole, bracket, underpin, prop up, prop, shore up, shore, truss, brace
verb
Meaning 13
hold up something as an example; hold up one's achievements for admiration
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: expose, exhibit, display
verb
Meaning 14
rob at gunpoint or by means of some other threat
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: stick up
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: rob
Narrower terms: mug
verb
Meaning 15
continue to live through hardship or adversity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- We went without water and food for 3 days
- These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America
- The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents
- how long can a person last without food and water?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: survive, last, live, live on, go, endure, hold out
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: stand up, hold up, hold water, perennate, live out
verb
Meaning 16
resist or withstand wear, criticism, etc.
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Her shoes won't hold up
- This theory won't hold water
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: stand up, hold water
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: survive, last, live, live on, go, endure, hold up, hold out
verb
Meaning 17
resist or confront with resistance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The politician defied public opinion
- The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear
- The bridge held
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: defy, withstand, hold
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: resist, hold out, withstand, stand firm
Narrower terms: weather, endure, brave, brave out
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
65 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Finnish: odottaa — to wait or delay
- Finnish: viivästyttää — to wait or delay
- Finnish: viivästyä — to wait or delay
- Finnish: olla myöhässä — to wait or delay
- Finnish: venata — to wait or delay
- German: warten — to wait or delay
- Greek: αργώ (argó) — to wait or delay
- Italian: ritardare — to wait or delay
- Italian: rallentare — to wait or delay
- Italian: frenare — to wait or delay
- Italian: aspettare — to wait or delay
- Polish: wstrzymać — to wait or delay
- Polish: opóźnić — to wait or delay
- Romanian: întârzia — to wait or delay
- Russian: задерживать (zaderživatʹ) — to wait or delay
- Russian: ждать (ždatʹ) — to wait or delay
- Spanish: aguaitar — to wait or delay
- Spanish: esperar — to wait or delay
- Swedish: vänta — to wait or delay
- Evenki: тури- (turi-) — to impede, detain
- Finnish: pidätellä — to impede, detain
- Finnish: viivyttää — to impede, detain
- French: retenir — to impede, detain
- German: zurückhalten — to impede, detain
- Hungarian: feltart — to impede, detain
- Italian: impedire — to impede, detain
- Nanai: туру- (turu-) — to impede, detain
- Russian: задерживать (zaderživatʹ) — to impede, detain
- Spanish: entorpecer — to impede, detain
- Spanish: retrasar — to impede, detain
- Swedish: hindra — to impede, detain
- Finnish: ryöstää aseella uhaten — to rob at gunpoint
- German: überfallen — to rob at gunpoint
- German: ausrauben — to rob at gunpoint
- Italian: rapinare — to rob at gunpoint
- Romanian: jefui — to rob at gunpoint
- Romanian: prăda — to rob at gunpoint
- Finnish: kannatella — to support or lift
- Finnish: nostaa — to support or lift
- Finnish: kohottaa — to support or lift
- Italian: sollevare — to support or lift
- Italian: alzare — to support or lift
- Russian: приподнимать (pripodnimatʹ) — to support or lift
- Sanskrit: यच्छति (yacchati) — to support or lift
- Spanish: sostener — to support or lift
- Swedish: stödja — to support or lift
- Swedish: stötta — to support or lift
- Finnish: täyttää — to fulfil / fulfill or complete one's part of an agreement
- Finnish: noudattaa — to fulfil / fulfill or complete one's part of an agreement
- Italian: mantenere — to fulfil / fulfill or complete one's part of an agreement
- Italian: attenersi — to fulfil / fulfill or complete one's part of an agreement
- Spanish: mantener — to fulfil / fulfill or complete one's part of an agreement
- Spanish: cumplir — to fulfil / fulfill or complete one's part of an agreement
- Finnish: kestää — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Finnish: läpäistä — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Hebrew: החזיק מעמד — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Italian: sostenere — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Italian: fronteggiare — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Romanian: înfrunta (cu curaj) — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Romanian: stăvili — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Russian: выдерживать (vyderživatʹ) — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Swedish: klara — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Swedish: tåla — to withstand; to stand up to; to survive
- Finnish: pitää pintansa — to keep up; not to fall behind; not to lose ground
- Finnish: pysyä mukana — to keep up; not to fall behind; not to lose ground