- the past tense and past participle of uphold
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
up•held
(up held′),USA pronunciation v.
- pt. and pp. of uphold.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
up•hold /ʌpˈhoʊld/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -held, -hold•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- 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 corresponding entry in Unabridged See support.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
to maintain, affirm, or defend against opposition or challenge to give moral support or inspiration to to support physically to lift up
'upheld' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Marsilius of Padua
- Miranda
- Wesleyan
- civil rights
- family values
- tenable
- unsustainable
- uphold