held up well

USAGE SUMMARY

'held up well' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to talk about something that has stood up against wear, stress, or difficulty. For example: "The roof of my house has held up well for the past decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Japan's economy held up well during those two years.

The Economist

A They held up well.

The New York Times

The premise has held up well.

The New York Times - Travel

Instead, the right's vote held up well.

The Economist

It's one that has held up well.

The New York Times

The argument has not held up well.

The New Yorker

I held up well and I won.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Blankfein has said the business has held up well.

The New York Times

Its filmed entertainment unit, Paramount Pictures, held up well.

The New York Times

But the ice has held up well in Philadelphia.

The New York Times

But those hypotheses haven't held up well under scrutiny.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating past performance, especially of something that has been tested over time, "held up well" is useful for highlighting success. Example: "The economic policies held up well during the recession".

Common error

Avoid using "held up well" when simply stating something exists. The phrase implies successful resistance to a challenge. Instead of saying "The building held up well since it was built last year," which implies an unnecessary struggle, consider "The building has been standing since last year."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held up well" functions as a verb phrase expressing the successful resistance or endurance of something over time or under challenging conditions. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English, as demonstrated by numerous examples across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "held up well" is a versatile and commonly used expression that describes something maintaining its quality or effectiveness despite challenges or the passage of time. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and frequent appearance in varied contexts, including news, business, and academic writing.

As identified through analysis, the phrase functions to communicate successful endurance and is suitable for neutral registers. While alternatives like "fared well" or "stood strong" exist, "held up well" offers a balanced and widely accepted way to convey resilience.

When using this phrase, remember to use it when something has genuinely faced a test, avoiding its application simply for stating existence. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, writers can effectively leverage "held up well" to enhance their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fared well

Indicates a positive outcome or successful performance under specific circumstances.

stood strong

Emphasizes resilience and resistance to pressure or adversity.

endured successfully

Focuses on the ability to overcome difficulties and persevere.

withstood the test of time

Focuses on the ability to remain relevant or effective over a long period.

resisted damage

Highlights the ability to prevent harm or deterioration.

remained in good condition

Highlights the maintenance of quality or state despite potential degradation.

proved durable

Highlights the lasting quality and resistance to wear or damage.

maintained its integrity

Emphasizes the preservation of wholeness and soundness.

stood the ground

Focuses on resisting an attack or pressure

performed admirably

Focuses on the praiseworthy quality of the performance

FAQs

How can I use "held up well" in a sentence?

Use "held up well" to describe something that has successfully withstood a test or challenge. For example, "The vintage car "held up well" during the cross-country race."

What's a good alternative to "held up well"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "fared well", "stood strong", or "withstood the test of time".

Is it correct to say "hold up well" instead of "held up well"?

"Hold up well" is the infinitive form, while "held up well" is the past tense. Use "held up well" when referring to something that has already occurred. You could also say, "It needs to "hold up well"."

What's the difference between "held up well" and "held up better"?

"Held up well" indicates a generally positive outcome, while "held up better" implies a comparison. For example, "This brand "held up well" over time," versus "This brand "held up better" than the competitor's brand."