uphold

C1 Topic:Law & Government

US /ˌʌpˈhəʊld/ See IPA manual

Freq #12581

Meanings

1

verb
To support or maintain a law, principle, or decision.

The court upheld the original verdict.
2

verb
To defend or support something against opposition.

The soldiers swore to uphold the constitution.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to support or maintain a... maintain

2 verb · to defend or support... maintain preserve

More vindicate

Word family

Forms upheldupholdedupholdersupholdingupholds

Derived forms upholdatory

Etymology

From Middle English upholden, equivalent to up- + hold. Compare Dutch ophouden (“to stop, cease, hold up”), German aufhalten (“to stop, halt, detain”). Compare also Middle Low German upholt, Old Norse upphald (“uphold, support”).

upholden Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Law & Government

External links

# uphold

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˌʌpˈhəʊld/
**Frequency rank:** 12581

## Meanings
1. To support or maintain a law, principle, or decision.
2. To defend or support something against opposition.

## Examples
- The court upheld the original verdict.
- The soldiers swore to uphold the constitution.

## Synonyms
- vindicate

## Derived Forms
- upholdatory

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: upholden

## Etymology
From Middle English upholden, equivalent to up- + hold. Compare Dutch ophouden (“to stop, cease, hold up”), German aufhalten (“to stop, halt, detain”). Compare also Middle Low German upholt, Old Norse upphald (“uphold, support”).

## AI Etymology
Uphold comes from Middle English upholden, equivalent to up- + hold. Compare Dutch ophouden (“to stop, cease, hold up”), German aufhalten (“to stop, halt, detain”). Compare also Middle Low German upholt, Old Norse upphald (“uphold, support”). The historical chain includes upholden (Middle English). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as upholdatory. In present use it covers to support or maintain a law, principle, or decision and to defend or support something against opposition.

## Topics
- Law & Government

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