he held up

USAGE SUMMARY

"he held up" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone raising or supporting something, or to indicate a delay. Example: "He held up the sign for everyone to see." Alternative expressions include "he raised" and "he lifted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Social Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

He held up his watch.

The New Yorker

He held up four fingers.

The New Yorker

He held up his hand.

The New Yorker

He held up a flask.

The New Yorker

He held up his iPhone.

The New York Times - Science

He held up a bunch of greens.

The New Yorker

He held up an expended tank shell.

The New York Times

"Hey!" He held up the bag.

The New Yorker

He held up his glass of tea.

The New York Times

He held up a glass of wine.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He holds up beautifully".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of the double meaning: in news contexts, it can refer to either a robbery or a delay. Ensure the surrounding sentence provides clear context.

Common error

Do not use "he held up" when you mean he supported a principle or law; use "he upheld" for legal or moral support.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he held up" functions as a subject pronoun followed by the past tense of the phrasal verb "hold up". In the data provided by Ludwig, it primarily acts as a transitive verb phrase where the subject performs an action on an object (e.g., a watch, a sign, a hand).

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Narrative Fiction

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academic Research

2%

Technical Manuals

1%

Scientific Data

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he held up" is a robust and frequently used expression in English, as evidenced by the high volume of examples found in Ludwig. It most commonly appears in News & Media contexts to describe a physical gesture of showing something, but it also carries significant weight in describing delays or criminal robberies. With a high Expert Rating, it is recognized as a grammatically correct and versatile choice for both creative and journalistic writing. Writers should ensure they provide enough context to distinguish between its physical, temporal, and criminal meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he raised

Focuses strictly on the physical act of moving something to a higher position

he lifted

A simpler physical synonym for raising an object

he displayed

Emphasizes the intention to show an object to others rather than the physical lift

he delayed

Replaces the idiomatic meaning of "holding up" progress or a schedule

he showcased

Implies a more formal or deliberate presentation of an item

he brandished

Suggests waving an object (often a weapon) in a threatening or flamboyant manner

he brandished

Emphasizes a vigorous or aggressive display of an object

he obstructed

More formal term for when "held up" refers to blocking a path or process

he withstood

Matches the sense of "holding up" under pressure or staying intact over time

he robbed

Specific to the criminal context of "holding up" a bank or person

FAQs

How do I use "he held up" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe showing something physically, like ""He held up" his ID card for the guard to see," or to describe a robbery, like ""He held up" the convenience store."

What is the difference between "he held up" and "he upheld"?

While both involve the verb 'hold', "he held up" usually refers to physical display or delay, whereas "he upheld" refers to maintaining a decision, law, or tradition.

Can I say "he held up" to mean he was late?

It is more common to say he was "held up" (passive) by something else, but you can say "the accident "held up" traffic" to describe the cause of the delay.

What is a more formal alternative to "he held up"?

Depending on the meaning, you could use "he presented" for showing an object, or "he impeded" if you are referring to a delay.