HOLING UP Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

holing up

verb

present participle of hole up

as in lurking

to remain out of sight we'll hole up in the cellar and wait out the hurricane

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of holing up But after holing up Sunday in his apartment 90 steps from the beach in the historic Zona Romantica, Eure was ready to venture outside. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026 Amir and Miri share their memories of holing up in a lightless, airless concrete room with two children under the age of 5, trying desperately to remain quiet. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025 Now teens were holing up in garages across America in an attempt to create their own versions of the Fab Four. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025 And at the very least, Damour said, kids won’t get a chance to develop the habit of holing up in their bedroom with their phone and never coming out. — Rheana Murray, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for holing up

Verb

The par-3 sixth hole and the long par-3 16th hole will be key to watch, with big numbers lurking.

— Dennis Esser, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Oil prices are once again uncomfortably high, but the bigger problem is lurking just beneath the surface.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of lurking

Verb

Filmmaker Rubaiyat Hossain crafts a taut supernatural drama that dissects the patriarchy hiding beneath the veneer of a fairytale wedding.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Then there are all the people hiding in the hills, and those who have taken refuge in the homes of Moroccan relatives in Ceuta.

— Miguel Macias, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of hiding

Verb

The young Moroccan caught the eye at the World Cup and certainly has the potential to become one of the best deep-lying midfielders in the game.

— Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Then the challenge was to be on the spot for anything and everything their subjects might do — like lying flat in a car bed, every day, often for 16 hours or longer.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of lying

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holing

holing up

holistic

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“Holing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holing%20up. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of holing up

verb

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