Dictionary
uphold
verb up·hold \(ˌ)əp-ˈhōld\
: to support or defend (something, such as a law)
: to judge (a legal decision) to be correct : to decide not to change (a verdict)
up·held\-ˈheld\up·hold·ing
Full Definition of UPHOLD
transitive verb
1
a : to give support to b : to support against an opponent
2
a : to keep elevated b : to lift up
— up·hold·er noun
See uphold defined for English-language learners
See uphold defined for kids
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First Known Use of UPHOLD
13th century
Synonym Discussion of 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>.
Rhymes with UPHOLD
acold, age-old, ahold, all told, behold, bifold, billfold, black gold, blindfold, blue mold, bread mold, choke hold, controlled, Cotswold, cuckold, eightfold, enfold, fanfold, fivefold, fool's gold, foothold, fourfold, freehold, gatefold, go gold, green mold, handhold, head cold, household, ice-cold, infold, knock cold, leaf mold, leasehold, make bold, ninefold, old gold, onefold, on hold, pinfold, potholed, roothold, scaffold, sheepfold, sixfold, slime mold, stokehold, stone-cold, stronghold, take hold, tenfold, threefold, threshold, toehold, twice-told, twofold, unfold, unmold, untold, white gold, whole-souled, withhold
UPHOLD Defined for Kids
uphold
verb up·hold \ˌəp-ˈhōld\
up·held \-ˈheld\up·hold·ing
Definition of UPHOLD for Kids
1
: to give support to <Judges swear to uphold the Constitution.>
2
: to lift up
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