Meaning & use
holding up
Last updated
“holding up” is a form of “hold up”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Staying strong, in good condition or able to cope while facing pressure, stress or heavy use.
Grammar: No object; often followed by well, fine or under: she is holding up well.
Patterns
- holding up well
- holding up under something
- holding up against something
How is your dad holding up after the surgery?
My old boots are still holding up after ten years.
The team is holding up well despite the injuries.
verbtransitive
Raising something or keeping it in a high position so that it does not fall or can be seen.
Grammar: Takes an object, which can come before or after up: holding up a sign.
Patterns
- holding something up
- holding up something
Two posts are holding up the roof of the porch.
She was holding up her phone so everyone could see the photo.
He kept holding up the ladder while I climbed.
verbtransitive
Causing a delay by blocking progress, or delaying someone or something.
Grammar: Takes an object: holding up traffic.
Patterns
- holding up something
- holding someone up
A broken-down truck is holding up traffic on the bridge.
Sorry for holding you up; I could not find my keys.
Paperwork is holding up the sale of the house.
Word forms
| base form | hold up |
|---|---|
| third person singular | holds up |
| past tense | held up |
| past participle | held up |
Common combinations
- holding up well
- The bridge is holding up well despite its age.
- holding up traffic
- A parade is holding up traffic downtown.
- holding up under pressure
- She is holding up under pressure better than I expected.
- holding up the line
- I felt bad for holding up the line at the café.
- how are you holding up
- I heard about your loss; how are you holding up?
Synonyms and how they differ
- coping
- Coping focuses on managing a difficulty, while holding up often implies staying outwardly strong or in working order.
- delaying
- Delaying only covers the sense of causing lateness and does not fit the 'staying strong' sense.
- supporting
- Supporting suggests carrying weight or backing someone up, and sounds more formal than holding up.
- enduring
- Enduring is stronger and more formal, suggesting suffering or lasting through a long difficulty.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: holding up or holding on?
holding up vs holding on
Holding on means gripping or waiting or just surviving; holding up stresses staying strong or delaying something.
Practice
Her grandmother is in the hospital, so I asked her, 'How are you ___?'
Choose one answer.
'How are you holding up?' is the set question for asking how someone copes in a hard time; 'holding on' would mean gripping or waiting, and the other options change the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “holding up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.