uphold
verb
up·hold
(ˌ)əp-ˈhōld 
upheld
(ˌ)əp-ˈheld
; upholding
; upholding
1
a
: to give support to
b
: to support against an opponent
2
a
: to keep elevated
b
: to lift up
upholder
noun
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
In other words, the leaders need to be the leaders while upholding the standards set forth by the coaching staff – a staff that had offseason turnover limited to one full-timer – while educating and guiding the younger players.
—
Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The Little Rock Civil Service Commission this week upheld the firing of a Little Rock police officer who pepper-sprayed a woman outside a nightclub in 2023 while working off-duty.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2025
If the appeals court upholds the block, the dispute is likely to advance to the Supreme Court.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
The decision upheld a previous denial by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission over traffic concerns raised by city officials and in more than 300 public comments.
—Rose Evans
september 10, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for uphold
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Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The Little Rock Civil Service Commission this week upheld the firing of a Little Rock police officer who pepper-sprayed a woman outside a nightclub in 2023 while working off-duty.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2025
If the appeals court upholds the block, the dispute is likely to advance to the Supreme Court.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
The decision upheld a previous denial by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission over traffic concerns raised by city officials and in more than 300 public comments.
—Rose Evans
september 10, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for uphold
Cite this Entry
“Uphold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uphold. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
uphold
verb
up·hold
(ˌ)əp-ˈhōld
upheld
-ˈheld
; upholding
; 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)
Sands v. Morongo Unified Sch. Dist., 809 P.2d 809 (1991)(dissent) uphold a statute
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