What does "hold up" mean (sense 1)?

To physically support or lift something so it stays raised or does not fall Example: "He held up the banner so everyone in the crowd could see it."

What does "hold up" mean (sense 2)?

To delay or obstruct someone or something Example: "An accident on the motorway held up traffic for three hours."

What does "hold up" mean (sense 3)?

To rob someone using the threat of violence, typically with a weapon Example: "Two masked men held up the convenience store and escaped with the cash."

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hold up

A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive

To support something physically, to delay, to endure, or to rob someone at gunpoint

In plain English

Keep something up, make something late, stay strong, or rob someone

What does "hold up" mean?

4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 A2 neutral

very common

To physically support or lift something so it stays raised or does not fall

"He held up the banner so everyone in the crowd could see it."

separable

2 B1 idiomatic neutral

very common

To delay or obstruct someone or something

"An accident on the motorway held up traffic for three hours."

separable

3 B1 idiomatic informal

common

To rob someone using the threat of violence, typically with a weapon

"Two masked men held up the convenience store and escaped with the cash."

separable

4 B2 idiomatic neutral

common

To remain strong, functional, or valid under pressure or over time

"Remarkably, the old bridge held up through decades of heavy use."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To physically lift or support something so it stays elevated

Actually means

Keep something up, make something late, stay strong, or rob someone

Usage tip

One of the most versatile phrasal verbs with 'hold'. The robbery sense is informal/colloquial. The 'endure' sense is intransitive. Common in both British and American English.

Words that pair with "hold up"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

traffic robbery delay structure deal argument

How to conjugate "hold up"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

hold up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

holds up

he/she/it

Past simple

held up

yesterday

Past participle

held up

have + pp

-ing form

holding up

continuous

Hear "hold up" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "hold up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "hold up"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

delay endure rob support sustain withstand

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "hold" All phrasal verbs with "up" More A2-level phrasal verbs