uphold

verb

up·​hold (ˌ)əp-ˈhōld 

upheld (ˌ)əp-ˈheld  ; upholding

transitive verb

1

a

: to give support to

b

: to support against an opponent

2

a

: to keep elevated

b

: to lift up

upholder noun

Synonyms

• defend
• justify
• maintain
• support

Choose the Right Synonym for uphold

support, uphold, advocate, back, champion mean to favor actively one that meets opposition.

support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

Examples of uphold in a Sentence

He took an oath to uphold the Constitution.

They have a responsibility to uphold the law.

The Court of Appeals upheld his conviction.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld an earlier ruling stating that Alabama’s district map likely discriminated against Black voters and mandated redrawing the 2nd District. —Curtis Bunn, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024

But the last time the FCC did that without first classifying ISPs as common carriers, back in late 2010, an appeals court upheld a challenge by Verizon, holding that the commission had no such authority without a Title II foundation. —Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024

In one last-minute ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld that if voters in Pennsylvania didn’t use the secrecy sleeve for sending in their mail-in ballot, they were allowed to have a provisional ballot counted instead. —Brian Bennett, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024

The state Supreme Court upheld the law in September and October. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing uphold

• uphold the decision

Kids Definition

uphold

verb

up·​hold (ˌ)əp-ˈhōld 

upheld -ˈheld  ; upholding

1

: to give support to

promise to uphold the law

2

a

: to keep elevated

b

: to lift up

upholder noun

Legal Definition

uphold

transitive verb

up·​hold

upheld; upholding

: to judge valid : let stand

uphold an award

specifically : to hold constitutional

uphold the practice of having religious invocations and benedictions at high school graduation ceremonies

—Sands v. Morongo Unified Sch. Dist., 809 P.2d 809 (1991)(dissent)

uphold a statute