Library / English Dictionary

UPHOLD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: upheld   

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Stand up for; stick up for; of causes, principles, or ideals

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "uphold" is one way to...):

defend; fend for; support (argue or speak in defense of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Support against an opponent

Example:

The appellate court upheld the verdict

Synonyms:

maintain; uphold

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "uphold" is one way to...):

confirm; reassert (strengthen or make more firm)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "uphold"):

justify; vindicate (show to be right by providing justification or proof)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

upholder (someone who upholds or maintains)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

Example:

Carry on the old traditions

Synonyms:

bear on; carry on; continue; preserve; uphold

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "uphold" is one way to...):

hold; keep; maintain (cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., 'keep clean')

Verb group:

continue; go forward; proceed (move ahead; travel onward in time or space)

continue; go along; go on; keep; proceed (continue a certain state, condition, or activity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "uphold"):

re-start; restart; resume (take up or begin anew)

hang in; hang on; hold on; persevere; persist (be persistent, refuse to stop)

perpetuate (cause to continue or prevail)

keep up; prolong; sustain (lengthen or extend in duration or space)

mummify (preserve while making lifeless)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

upholder (someone who upholds or maintains)

Credits

 Context examples: 

I was not aware of it myself, but I felt it necessary to uphold the institutions of my county, and to evince a familiarity with them; so I shook my head, as much as to say, “I believe you!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Here am I upholding the good fame of the learned Duns Scotus against the foolish quibblings and poor silly reasonings of Willie Ockham.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was greyer, the lines in his face and forehead were deeper, and he had every appearance of having toiled and wandered through all varieties of weather; but he looked very strong, and like a man upheld by steadfastness of purpose, whom nothing could tire out.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“By Thomas of Kent! we shall make a camp-marshal of thee, and thou shalt draw up rules for our jousting. But, John, who is it that you would uphold in this knightly and pleasing fashion?”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Sir knight, said the prince, you speak like a brave man, and our cousin of France is happy in having a cavalier who is so fit to uphold his cause either with tongue or with sword.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He would say, 'Sir, I should take it as an honor to do some small deed of arms against you, not for mine own glory or advancement, but rather for the fame of my lady and for the upholding of chivalry.'

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Should you chance to see a knight laugh, or smile, or even, look you, arch his brows, or purse his mouth, or in any way show surprise that I should uphold the Lady Mary, you will take particular note of his name, his coat-armor, and his lodging.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Give him greeting from Sir Nigel Loring, and say that the glove which I bear in my cap belongs to the most peerless and lovely of her sex, whom I am now ready to uphold against any lady whose claim he might be desirous of advancing.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“She was at much pains at my upbringing, and, by my soul! I will uphold the curve of her eyelashes, for it tickleth my very heart-root to think of her. But who is here?”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It goes to my heart that you should ride forth now a mere knight bachelor, when there is no noble in the land who hath so good a claim to the square pennon, save only that you have not the money to uphold it.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)