shore up

Idioms  

1. Support, prop, as in The new law was designed to shore up banks in danger of failure. This expression derives from the noun shore, meaning “prop,” a beam or timber propped against a structure to provide support. The verb shore dates from 1340 and was first recorded in a figurative context in 1581.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shore up

A forced slowdown on AI spending could prove beneficial for the hyperscalers and enable them to shore up their balance sheets.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

The platform also gives security, legal and compliance teams a rundown of an agent’s actions, to help shore up defenses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Yet to shore up utilities’ risk profile and prevent upward pressure on utility rates, he said, the state will probably have to grant some liability caps.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

Social Security benefits may be cut by 26% in 2032 unless Congress acts to shore up the system, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

My voice was crumbling, and I struggled to shore up its supports.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

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Related Words

• add to
• bolster
• boost
• build up
• buttress
• emphasize
• enlarge
• fortify
• increase
• stress
• support
• underline

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