Detain and Hold up

Detain

Detain verb - Cause to be slowed down or delayed.

Hold up is a synonym for detain in delay topic. In some cases you can use "Hold up" instead a verb "Detain", when it comes to topics like help, hold, wait. popular alternative

Nearby Words: detention, detainer, detaining

Hold up

Hold up verb - To assign to a later time.
Usage example: held up mail delivery until we had a permanent address

Detain is a synonym for hold up in delay topic. You can use "Detain" instead a verb "Hold up", if it concerns topics such as wait, postpone. popular alternative
Cite this Source
Hold up and Detain. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/detain/hold_up
Detain & Hold up. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/detain/hold_up>.
Hold up or Detain. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/detain/hold_up.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "detain" and "hold up" have occurred on timeline