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

“The holdup quite frankly is Marty Makary,” said Richard Burr, the former North Carolina senator who now leads a pro-vaping group, the Coalition for Smarter Regulation of Nicotine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

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

He would not say when the report is expected to be released or what the holdup is about.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 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

The director climbed out of her tall canvas chair and came over to see what the holdup was.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• burglary
• mugging
• robbery
• theft