uphold
/ˌʌpˈhəʊld/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: upholds · upholding · upheld
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate.
Verb
Examples
The mournful train/ Echoed her grief, [...]/ With groans, and hands upheld, to move his mind, /Besought his pity to their helpless kind
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To keep erect; to support; to sustain; to keep from falling
Verb
Examples
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “uphold” mean?
To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate.
Is “uphold” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.