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
The more India interferes with democratic processes or props up unpopular strongmen, the wider the opening becomes for China.
—
Muhib Rahman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
Some of those territories were invaded with the tacit support of Western allies keen to prop up an anti-communist leader, at a time when proxy conflicts backed by the US and the Soviet Union raged across the Global South.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Ukraine is also likely to home in on Russia's military facilities vital for propping up aerospace manufacturing as part of its strike campaign on high-value Russian assets, the analysts will say.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Yet even the Chinese state may not be able to prop up its automakers indefinitely.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prop up
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Muhib Rahman, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
Some of those territories were invaded with the tacit support of Western allies keen to prop up an anti-communist leader, at a time when proxy conflicts backed by the US and the Soviet Union raged across the Global South.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Ukraine is also likely to home in on Russia's military facilities vital for propping up aerospace manufacturing as part of its strike campaign on high-value Russian assets, the analysts will say.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Yet even the Chinese state may not be able to prop up its automakers indefinitely.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prop up
Cite this Entry
“Prop up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prop%20up. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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