hole up

verb

holed up; holing up; holes up
Synonyms of hole upnext

intransitive verb

: to hide out in or as if in a hole or cave

transitive verb

: to place in or as if in a refuge or hiding place

Synonyms of hole up

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Examples of hole up in a Sentence

we'll hole up in the cellar and wait out the hurricane
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The department also shared photos of an armored vehicle outside the home, where the suspect was holed up for several hours before he was taken into custody. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 While in town, Allen spent all day holed up in his hotel suite writing scripts for future films. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 Once their picks were narrowed to 10 (or 15 for the performers), a group of 500 panelists holed up in the org’s North Hollywood headquarters to watch episodes and choose the eventual nominees. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 Wareheim — whose surrealist, absurdist work across film and television as an actor, writer, director and producer reshaped contemporary comedy — lately has been holed up at all hours at this sprawling indoor-outdoor compound called Serpentine. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hole up

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of hole up was in 1875

Rhymes for hole up

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Browse Nearby Words

hole through
hole up
holey
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Cite this Entry

“Hole up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hole%20up. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hole up

verb
: to take shelter in or as if in a hole or cave
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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