- to maintain, affirm, or defend against opposition or challenge
- to give moral support or inspiration to
- rare to support physically
- to lift up
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
up•hold /ʌpˈhoʊld/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -held, -hold•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to support or defend, as against criticism:to uphold the family's good name.
- to hold up;
keep from sinking;
support.
up•hold
(up hōld′),USA pronunciation v.t., -held, -hold•ing.
up•hold′er, n.
- to support or defend, as against opposition or criticism:He fought the duel to uphold his family's honor.
- to keep up or keep from sinking;
support:Stout columns upheld the building's heavy roof. Her faith upheld her in that time of sadness. - to lift upward;
raise:The pilgrims upheld their eyes and thanked heaven for their safe journey. - British Terms
- to upholster.
- to maintain in good condition;
take care of.
- Middle English up holden. See up-, hold 1175–1225
- 1. See support.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
uphold /ʌpˈhəʊld/ vb ( -holds, -holding, -held) (transitive)
'uphold' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
affirm
- fight
- maintain
- Orangeman
- sostenuto
- sustain
- Trinitarian
- upheld
- upholsterer
- vindicate
- assert
- bear
- bolster
- covenanter
- defend
- defender of the bond
- endorse
- help
- hew
- hold
- justice
- justify
- National Covenant
- oppress
- persevere
- preserve
- underprop
- vouch
- stand
- support