prop up

phrasal verb

propped up; propping up; props up

1

: to stop (something) from falling or slipping by placing something under or against it

We propped up the beams with long boards.

propped the plant stems up

2

: to give help, encouragement, or support to (someone)

His faith propped him up in times of crisis.

Examples of prop up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Where only three wooden pilings once propped up each section, crews increased it to six, driving 120 stronger fiberglass pilings 20 feet into the Monterey Bay sea floor, and wrapping other wooden pilings in protective composite sleeves. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 17 May 2024

The 15th is propping up an overgrown plant in my bathroom window, and the 16th? —Laura Gurfein, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024