1. Robbery at gunpoint
   "The convenience store holdup was caught on security cameras";
   - armed robbery, heist [informal], stickup
    
2. The act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time
   "The construction project faced a holdup due to unexpected weather conditions";
   - delay

1. Be the physical support of; carry the weight of
   "The beam holds up the roof";
   - hold, support, sustain
    
2. Cause to be late or slow; prevent from proceeding on schedule
   "Traffic was held up by the bad weather";
   - delay, detain
    
3. (crime) rob at gunpoint or by means of some other threat
   "The masked men held up the bank";
   - stick up
    
4. Resist or confront with resistance
   "The fortress held up against the siege";
   - defy, withstand, hold
    
5. Resist or withstand wear, criticism, etc.
   "Her shoes won't hold up";
   - stand up, hold water [informal]
    
6. Continue to live and avoid dying
   "These superstitions hold up in the backwaters of America";
   - survive, last, live, live on, go, endure, hold out
    
7. Hold up something as an example; hold up one's achievements for admiration
   "The coach held up the team's victory as an example of perseverance"

Derived forms: holding up, held up, holdups, holds up

See also: keep

Type of: act, continue, decelerate, display, dispute [archaic], exhibit, expose, go along, go on, hold out, inactivity, keep, move, proceed, resist, retard, rob, robbery, slow, slow down, slow up, stand firm, withstand

Encyclopedia: Holdup