holding up

USAGE SUMMARY

"holding up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use "holding up" to describe someone or something that is maintaining strength or stability in a difficult situation or circumstances. For example: Despite the economic downturn, the stock market is holding up well.

✓ Grammatically correct

Maintaining strength or stability

Delaying progress

Supporting physically

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"She's holding up well".

The New York Times

"You're holding up traffic".

The New Yorker

We're holding up.

Independent

"I'm holding up," she said.

The New Yorker

Was his body holding up?

The New York Times - Sports

I asked how he was holding up.

The New Yorker

I hope you are holding up well.

The New York Times

Which city is holding up the works?

The New York Times - Arts

Holding up the shoot was Ms. Gravano.

The New York Times

"It ended up holding up the bus.

The New York Times

So far, both are holding up well.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's emotional state during a difficult time, use "holding up" to convey resilience and strength. For example: "She's holding up well despite the challenges."

Common error

Avoid using "holding up" when you mean simply 'waiting'. "Holding up" implies a degree of effort, support or delay, not just inactivity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "holding up" is as a phrasal verb, functioning as a verb phrase. It describes an action, either of maintaining a state or causing a delay, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples, such as "She's holding up well" or "It ended up holding up the bus."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "holding up" functions as a versatile phrasal verb with meanings ranging from enduring and maintaining strength to causing delays. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It appears frequently in news and media sources, indicating its relevance in describing current events and personal situations. While generally neutral in register, context dictates its appropriateness; it's best used when conveying a sense of effort, support or delay, and avoided in overly formal contexts or when simple waiting is implied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

propping up

Implies providing support to something that is failing, slightly more specific than general support.

maintaining composure

Focuses on emotional resilience rather than physical or operational maintenance.

bearing the weight

Focuses on enduring a burden, emphasizing the load being carried rather than the action of supporting.

keeping afloat

Implies survival or stability in challenging circumstances, differing from actively supporting or delaying.

supporting

Stresses providing assistance, removing the sense of time or progress.

sustaining oneself

Emphasizes self-support and endurance, not necessarily affecting external factors or objects.

keeping up

Suggests maintaining pace or level, different from holding something else up.

prolonging

Highlights the aspect of extending something, differing from supporting or maintaining.

delaying

Focuses solely on causing a postponement, omitting the sense of support or maintenance.

impeding

Specifically means hindering or obstructing, lacking the broader sense of maintenance or support.

FAQs

How can I use "holding up" in a sentence?

You can use "holding up" to describe someone maintaining their strength in a difficult situation, as in "He's "holding up" remarkably well under pressure". It can also mean delaying something, such as "The rain is "holding up" the construction."

What's the difference between "holding up" and "propping up"?

"Holding up" generally means supporting or maintaining, while "propping up" specifically suggests supporting something that is in danger of collapsing or failing.

What are some alternative phrases for "holding up" when referring to someone's well-being?

Instead of ""holding up"", you could use phrases like "remaining strong", "staying resilient", or "coping well".

When is it inappropriate to use "holding up"?

It might be inappropriate to use ""holding up"" in very formal contexts where a more precise or sophisticated term is preferred. Also, avoid using it when you simply mean "waiting" without the connotation of effort or support.