Synonyms

upheld

American

[uhp-held] / ʌpˈhɛld /

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of uphold.

upheld British

/ ʌpˈhɛld /

verb

the past tense and past participle of uphold

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Department of Transportation upheld the ticket the following February, and Cook appealed again.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

The Stormers were convinced they had grounded the ball late in the match, but referee Christophe Ridley's 'no try' decision was upheld after a review.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

In 1898, a conservative Supreme Court upheld that rule and affirmed the citizenship of Wong Kim Ark. He was born in San Francisco to Chinese parents who later returned to China.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The Supreme Court affirmed the broad understanding of the citizenship clause in a landmark 1898 decision that upheld the American citizenship of a man born to Chinese parents living in California.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

But now, when she opened her mouth to reply, his upheld flat palm stopped her.

From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023