uphold
Usage
What are other ways to say uphold?
To uphold applies especially to supporting or backing another, as in a statement, opinion, or belief: to uphold the rights of a minority. To support is to hold up or add strength to, literally or figuratively: The columns support the roof. To maintain is to support so as to preserve intact: to maintain an attitude of defiance. To sustain, a rather elevated word, suggests completeness and adequacy in supporting: The court sustained his claim.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Military discipline requires young officers to uphold high standards of conduct when doing so is unpopular, admit a mistake before it becomes a casualty, and accomplish missions under pressure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
"Allegations do not constitute proof of wrongdoing, and any action taken by Fijian authorities must uphold due process, the presumption of innocence and the rule of law," it added.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
“We hold all suppliers across our global supply chain accountable” to uphold U.S., international and local laws, and Sysco suspends contracts when they do not, said Ramit Plushnick-Masti, a company spokesperson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
The prime minister said they were "working together" to uphold the principles of the peace deal for Northern Ireland.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Their children were deeply involved and inspired by their parents’ mission to encourage self-reliance and uphold a sense of empowerment for people of the African Diaspora.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
If the company upholds its decision, he should then file a complaint with his state’s insurance department and/or consult an attorney who specializes in property-insurance disputes.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
The ruling essentially upholds similar bans enacted in 25 other states.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
"Either its people unite around a sovereign state that monopolises weapons, upholds the law and protects citizens irrespective of their affiliation or position, or it remains hostage to the logic of militias," he said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 13, 2026
Plaid Cymru said it "wants a fair, rules-based system of controlled migration that works for Wales, meets the needs of our communities, reflects Wales' unique challenges, and that upholds our values".
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
We upholds the family’s honor, and we never speaks ill of them — though Professor Dumbledore told Dobby he does not insist upon this.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
The Charity Commission opposed Campbell's challenge and said the five-year ban should be upheld.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
A residents' appeal challenging the court ruling that upheld the commission's decision is scheduled for Friday in Belfast.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
A US appeals court upheld on Friday the Pentagon's decision to exclude Anthropic from its supply chain, a decision taken when the AI startup refused to remove certain safeguards on its Claude model.
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
The news that City had been found guilty was broken by the Athletic, which reported that 114 of the 115 counts were upheld.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
The presiding judge upheld the M’Naghten Rule, and the jury gave the state the death penalty it demanded.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Still, it’s worth upholding this turnaround as an example of why speaking out on animal rights can be successful.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026
"It's certainly going to be tricky for the court to thread the needle," said Sankar, between upholding the administration's position and giving the oil companies what they seek.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
Lee offered no explanation of why he was upholding her sentence.
From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026
“We’re upholding election integrity,” said Ms. Nessel, a Democrat, “by investigating all claims of non-citizen voters, as rare as they are, and holding bad actors accountable.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
The Civil War was being fought in the hopes of keeping the Union together and upholding the Constitution—not for the abolition of what Southerners liked to call “the peculiar institution.”
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Vocabulary lists containing uphold
Beowulf vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "U"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Ghost Boys
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
