Meaning & use
hold up
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Meanings
nouncountableinformal
A delay that stops something from going ahead on time.
Grammar: Usually written holdup or hold-up: what's the holdup?
Patterns
- a holdup in something
- what's the holdup
- a holdup on the road
A holdup at the border added two hours to our trip.
What's the holdup with the permit?
Roadworks caused a long holdup this morning.
nouncountableAmerican
An armed robbery, especially of a bank or store.
Grammar: Spelled hold-up or holdup; different from the delay sense.
Patterns
- a holdup at something
- a bank holdup
The clerk was calm during the holdup.
Police are investigating the bank holdup downtown.
The store has been the target of a holdup twice.
verbtransitive
To delay or slow someone or something.
Grammar: Takes an object: the accident held up traffic.
Patterns
- hold something up
- hold someone up
Sorry to hold you up; I'll be quick.
A strike held up deliveries all week.
The accident held up traffic for an hour.
verbtransitive
To keep something raised or in place so it does not fall.
Grammar: Takes an object: hold up the sign.
Patterns
- hold something up
Two beams hold up the porch roof.
She held up the sign so everyone could see it.
Can you hold up this shelf while I tighten the screws?
verbintransitive
To stay strong, valid, or in good condition under pressure or over time.
Grammar: No object: the argument didn't hold up.
Patterns
- hold up well
- hold up under something
The old bridge has held up well in the storms.
His excuse did not hold up under questions.
How are you holding up after the move?
Word forms
| plural | hold-ups |
|---|---|
| third person singular | holds up |
| past tense | held up |
| past participle | held up |
| -ing form | holding up |
Common combinations
- a long holdup
- A long holdup kept us waiting at the gate.
- hold up traffic
- A broken-down truck held up traffic.
- hold up well
- The tent held up well in the wind.
- an armed holdup
- The armed holdup lasted less than a minute.
- hold up under pressure
- The old argument did not hold up under pressure.
Synonyms and how they differ
- delay
- Delay is the standard, neutral word for lateness, while holdup sounds more conversational and often points to a specific cause.
- setback
- Setback stresses a loss of progress, not merely lost time.
- robbery
- Robbery is the general crime, whereas holdup implies the thief used a weapon and made demands.
- stickup
- Stickup is a slangier American word for an armed robbery.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: hold up or hold-on?
hold up vs hold-on
Hold on means wait a moment or keep gripping, while hold up as a noun means delay or robbery.
Practice
The meeting started late because of a ___ at the airport.
Choose one answer.
A holdup is a delay. Holder, uphold, and upturn all look similar but do not fit as a noun meaning delay.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hold up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.