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
On the not-so-bright side, they are concentrated in an industry that has, for better or worse, been propping up the American economy for about a year.
—
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Boycotts of Disney streaming platforms and theme parks could create major financial repercussions, especially as those businesses have helped prop up earnings at the conglomerate recently.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Recall that back in 2022, the Fed ended its purchases of mortgage bonds that were propping up the market during the pandemic.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, her muddy blond hair was styled in a messy half-up, half-down look, the back of her hair propped up on the crown of her head like a bird’s nest.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prop up
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Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Boycotts of Disney streaming platforms and theme parks could create major financial repercussions, especially as those businesses have helped prop up earnings at the conglomerate recently.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Recall that back in 2022, the Fed ended its purchases of mortgage bonds that were propping up the market during the pandemic.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, her muddy blond hair was styled in a messy half-up, half-down look, the back of her hair propped up on the crown of her head like a bird’s nest.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 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 30 Sep. 2025.
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