uphold
Americanverb (used with object)
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upholds,
present (3rd person singular)
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upheld,
past participle, past
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upholding
present participle
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to support or defend, as against opposition or criticism.
He fought the duel to uphold his family's honor.
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to keep up or keep from sinking; support.
Stout columns upheld the building's heavy roof. Her faith upheld her in that time of sadness.
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to lift upward; raise.
The pilgrims upheld their eyes and thanked heaven for their safe journey.
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British.
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to upholster.
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to maintain in good condition; take care of.
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verb
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to maintain, affirm, or defend against opposition or challenge
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to give moral support or inspiration to
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rare to support physically
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to lift up
Usage
What are other ways to say uphold? To uphold something means to support it or defend it against opposition or criticism. How is uphold different from maintain, support, and sustain? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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upholdsimple
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upholdssimple
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have upheldperfect
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has upheldperfect
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am upholdingprogressive
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are upholdingprogressive
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is upholdingprogressive
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have been upholdingperfect progressive
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has been upholdingperfect progressive
Past
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upheldsimple
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had upheldperfect
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was upholdingprogressive
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were upholdingprogressive
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had been upholdingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of uphold
First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English upholden; see up-, hold 1
Explanation
When you uphold something, you stick up for or support it. Police officers are paid to uphold the law, and crazy Elvis fans uphold their belief that he's still alive out there somewhere. If you reverse the two parts of this word, you get hold up. And that's exactly what upholding is: holding up or supporting an idea or practice. You might uphold your dog's innocence, even though it's pretty obvious he dug up the neighbor's flower bed. When America fought for independence, we upheld the idea of fair representation. When you uphold something, you're taking a stand for it.
Vocabulary lists containing uphold
Beowulf vocabulary
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Ghost Boys
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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.
See Examples For:
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said she had been a "pioneering defence attorney for anti-apartheid activists" who had worked to "uphold human dignity and bring hope in South Africa and to peoples globally".
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Burnham added that as "co-custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, we are working together to uphold its principles as we approach the 30th anniversary".
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
“The key point of my statement is that we can uphold academic freedom while also expressing support for members of our community who are hurting,” he wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
“Our efforts to modernize our nuclear forces are intended to safeguard national strategic security and uphold global strategic stability.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Their children were deeply involved and inspired by their parents’ mission to encourage self-reliance and uphold a sense of empowerment for people of the African Diaspora.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
If the company upholds its decision, he should then file a complaint with his state’s insurance department and/or consult an attorney who specializes in property-insurance disputes.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
The barrister also noted was confirmation from the child's mother about the contact her now ex-partner has with their daughter and the responsibility he upholds emotionally and financially as a father.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Gilles Bouleau, the news anchor, repeatedly pressed her on what she will do if France’s high court upholds the appellate ruling and requires her to wear an electronic bracelet—an unprecedented scenario.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
The decision upholds a turn-back policy that began in 2016 as an emergency response to a surge of Haitian immigrants at the San Ysidro border crossing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
“Vegetables are good for you; your mother says so too. Have some more,” she insists, until Father intervenes and upholds my right to refuse a dish I don’t like.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
If the verdict is upheld by the appeal board it is likely City will face severe sanctions, which could include heavy points deductions, a large fine and transfer embargoes.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
A residents' appeal challenging the court ruling that upheld the commission's decision is scheduled for Friday in Belfast.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
His party colleague, Carla Lockhart MP, warned of "profound" consequences if the Parade Commission's determination was not upheld.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
The Pentagon decision upheld on Friday was based on public procurement regulations and now remains in effect.
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
The ban was upheld everywhere in the country.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Still, it’s worth upholding this turnaround as an example of why speaking out on animal rights can be successful.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026
The Walter family issued a press release that said it is upholding its philanthropic commitments and highlighted its funding to Academy Group.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Lee offered no explanation of why he was upholding her sentence.
From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026
A spokesperson for Greene King said it respected the tribunal's decision and that it was committed to upholding the highest standards of employee welfare.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
In 1874, the US Supreme Court handed down a unanimous opinion upholding the lower court.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
