prop up

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

Matt Damon is fine as the title character if not revelatory, but the extensive supporting cast frequently prop up individual moments, as do some of Nolan’s unique additions to the story. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

Beyond basic fairness — and billionaires already prop up the state budget by paying a wildly disproportionate share of income taxes — the core problem with a wealth tax is that wealth exists on paper. — Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 13 July 2026

And a chronic shortage of homes for sale nationally, due partly to years of below-average new home construction, has helped prop up home prices even in a multiyear sales slump. — Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

While consumer spending remains strong — which is good for the economy — it's increasingly propped up by high-earning households — a dynamic that threatens to sink the economy if things go sideways, economists said. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 10 July 2026

Rhymes for prop up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup