uphold

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

Synonyms of uphold

• 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

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

The judge upheld the first two convictions but declared a mistrial on the final rape charge after the jury foreperson refused to keep deliberating. —Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026

The Department of Transportation upheld the ticket the following February, and Cook appealed again. —Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026

The council upheld the commission’s approval, citing narrow legal purview. —Rose Evans april 12, Idaho Statesman, 12 Apr. 2026

If Magyar upholds his pledge to implement anti-corruption reforms in Hungary, that could also help repair the country’s relationship with the EU, since much of the tension in the relationship stemmed from the rise of corruption in Hungary, Végh said. —Chantelle Lee, Time, 12 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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