uphold

1 of 2

verb

up·​hold (ˌ)əp-ˈhōld 

upheld (ˌ)əp-ˈheld  ; upholding

transitive verb

1

a

: to give support to

uphold a tradition

uphold the Constitution

b

: to support against an opponent

2

a

: to keep elevated

b

: to lift up

3

law : to judge to be valid : let stand

uphold a statute

The court upheld the agency's decision.

upholder noun

upholder

2 of 2

noun

up·​hold·​er

-də(r)

1

archaic

a(1)

: a dealer in small goods

(2)

: a repairer or maker of small goods

b

: upholsterer

c

: undertaker sense 4

2

: one that upholds: such as

a

: a physical support

b

: supporter, maintainer, defender

a stout upholder of authority

—V. L. Parrington

Synonyms of uphold

Verb

• defend
• maintain
• justify

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of uphold in a Sentence

Verb

He took an oath to uphold the Constitution.

They have a responsibility to uphold the law.

The Court of Appeals upheld his conviction.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Shirilla's lawyers took that judgment to the Eighth District Court of Appeals, which upheld Russo's decision, as the Supreme Court did again on Tuesday. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026

While sports governing bodies such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have come to recognize that press freedom is an essential part of their commitments to uphold human rights, results are vastly lacking. — Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Just days after the White House confirmed the plans, a Kenyan court temporarily halted the proposal with Kenyan High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi upholding that decision and ordering the Kenyan government to cease all building and operations at the base while the case is resolved. — Dada Jovanovic, ABC News, 23 June 2026

Other discounters step up Spirit’s other rivals in the discount category also have been conspicuous in their additions, essentially upholding the airport’s tradition of being the state’s mainstay for budget carriers. — David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English upholdere, from upholden (to repair) + -ere -er

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing uphold

• uphold the decision

Rhymes for uphold

• ahold
• behold
• billfold
• blindfold
• cajoled
• consoled
• controlled
• cotswold
• eightfold
• enfold
• enrolled
• extolled

Kids Definition

uphold

verb

up·​hold (ˌ)əp-ˈhōld 

upheld -ˈheld  ; upholding

1

: to give support to

promise to uphold the law

2

a

: to keep elevated

b

: to lift up

upholder noun

Legal Definition

uphold

transitive verb

up·​hold

upheld; upholding

: to judge valid : let stand

uphold an award

specifically : to hold constitutional

uphold the practice of having religious invocations and benedictions at high school graduation ceremonies

—Sands v. Morongo Unified Sch. Dist., 809 P.2d 809 (1991)(dissent)

uphold a statute