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.
The sturdy construction offers plenty of support for nursing, or prop up your legs for a full recline. Pamela Brill, Parents, 22 May 2025 That could put more pressure on the Fed to prop up the economy by itself through lower interest rates. Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025 That high level hypocrisy – America, the shining beacon of liberty, propping up a dictator – made Peck as acutely sensitive to the abuse of political language as Orwell. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 May 2025 On any fruit tree, however, branches overloaded with fruit should be propped up with some sort of support in order not to break. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for prop up

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prop up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prop%20up. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prop up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!