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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His laptop was propped up on a neon-green bin, the kind typically used to store Legos or crayons. E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025 Beijing’s support Pressure has been building on Chinese officials to release more forceful stimulus measures to prop up domestic consumption and the housing sector, while reducing the economy’s reliance on exports and investment. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025 It can also be used to prop up your iPad at two different levels. Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2025 That focus, in the first 100 days of Trump’s second White House term, has diverted attention from the search and propping up of more progressives to compete against moderate Democrats. Hanna Trudo, The Hill, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prop up

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Cite this Entry

“Prop up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prop%20up. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

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