English Explanatory Dictionary

uphold

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate.
  2. To keep erect; to support; to sustain; to keep from falling
  3. To support by approval or encouragement; to vindicate; to confirm (something which has been questioned)
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˌʌpˈhəʊld/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-uphold.wav

Word forms

uphold upholds upholding upheld 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”).

Synonyms

vindicate

Derived words

upholdatory
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
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