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• hold-up
  hold-up

  noun

  a robbery, esp an armed one
• hold up
  hold up

  Offer or present as an example, as in The teacher held Bernie's essay up as a model for the class to follow . [c. 1600]

hold-up

British  

noun

1. a robbery, esp an armed one

2. a delay; stoppage

3. an excessive charge; extortion

4. (usually plural) a stocking that is held up by an elasticated top without suspenders

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verb

1. (tr) to delay; hinder

   we were held up by traffic

2. (tr) to keep from falling; support

3. (tr) to stop forcibly or waylay in order to rob, esp using a weapon

4. (tr) to exhibit or present

   he held up his achievements for our admiration

5. (intr) to survive or last

   how are your shoes holding up?

6. bridge to refrain from playing a high card, so delaying the establishment of (a suit)

7. to confess a mistake or misdeed

hold up Idioms  

1. Offer or present as an example, as in The teacher held Bernie's essay up as a model for the class to follow . [c. 1600]

2. Obstruct or delay, as in We were held up in traffic . [c. 1900]

3. Rob, as in He was held up in a dark alley, with no help nearby . This usage, which gave rise to the noun holdup for a robbery, alludes to the robbers' demand that the victims hold their hands high. [Late 1800s]

4. Also, hold out . Continue to function without losing force or effectiveness, endure. For example, We held up through that long bitter winter , or The nurse was able to hold out until someone could relieve her . [Late 1500s]

5. See hold one's head high .

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Example Sentences

Employment has also continued to hold up, consumer confidence is ticking higher, and new economic data has been largely benign, allowing strong earnings to take the stage.

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

More testing is still needed to evaluate how well these recycled plastic roads hold up over the long term.

From Science Daily • Jun. 28, 2026

The sole exception could be Google, which has the option to nix its deal after a one-month grace period if SpaceX can’t hold up its end of the bargain by the end of September.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 27, 2026

“People will hold up signs saying ‘FTD’ and they’ll get on the JumboTron.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026

This was part of the process, we understood—a test to see who had the mettle to hold up as both a leader and a symbol for the country itself.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• delay
• detain
• hinder
• impede
• interrupt
• stay
• stop
• suspend