holdup

American  

[hohld-uhp] / ˈhoʊldˌʌp /

noun

1. a forcible stopping and robbing of a person.

2. a stop or delay in the progress of something.

   There was a holdup in the construction of the bridge.

3. an instance of being charged excessively.

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Usage

What does holdup mean? A holdup is a delay or something that causes a delay. It’s frequently used in the phrase What’s the holdup?—meaning “What’s the cause of the delay?”Holdup can also refer to a kind of robbery, typically in which the robber takes a person’s money by stopping them and threatening them with a weapon, especially a gun. In this sense, a holdup is also called a stickup. In both cases, the word is sometimes spelled hold-up. The phrase hold up can be used as a verb meaning to delay, to cause a delay, or to rob someone in a holdup. (It also has several other meanings.)Example: I asked him what the holdup was, and he told me that he was waiting for the designer to deliver the images.

Etymology

Origin of holdup

1830–40, noun use of verb phrase hold up

Example Sentences

But every year, thousands of refunds are held up, and the IRS isn’t required to process them within a certain period or provide information to taxpayers on what is responsible for the holdup.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

The biggest holdup in the fiber boom, he said, is human capital for roles including drillers, foremen, splicers and aerial linemen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

“He didn’t know what the holdup was in getting back to them on which university could be sued.”

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2025

Deliveries are also delayed due to a holdup in supplies of General Electric's F-404 engines for the jets.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2025

Harry scrambled around, trying to pick it all up before the dwarf started singing, causing something of a holdup in the corridor.

From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling

Related Words

• burglary
• mugging
• robbery
• theft