upholdup‧hold /ʌpˈhəʊld $ -ˈhoʊld/ ●○○ verb (past tense and past participle upheld /-ˈheld/) [transitive] 
Verb Table Examples
a committee that aims to uphold educational standards2if a court upholds a decision made by another court, it states that the decision was correct OPP overrule: The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal.—upholder noun [countable]
Verb TableVERB TABLE
uphold
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | uphold |
| he, she, it | upholds | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | upheld |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have upheld |
| he, she, it | has upheld | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had upheld |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will uphold |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have upheld |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am upholding |
| he, she, it | is upholding | |
| you, we, they | are upholding | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was upholding |
| you, we, they | were upholding | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been upholding |
| he, she, it | has been upholding | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been upholding |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be upholding |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been upholding |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- A federal court has upheld legislative term limits in Maine.
- The court's decision upheld state laws prohibiting doctor-assisted suicide.
- The decision was upheld by the US Supreme Court late last year.
- They want to uphold traditional family values.
- He said the suit will be amended to reflect the ruling upholding Proposition 209.
- I uphold the law of this realm - and the law states quite clearly that vagrants are rogues and vagabonds.
- In a surprisingly lopsided Senate vote in March, the bill was upheld.
- Now, he is an avenger, dedicated to upholding Olympic values.
- On serious analysis, very few of these claims are upheld.
- The court of appeals upheld all except the spousal-consent requirement, a judgment affirmed by the Court.
- The Lords had initially upheld the interlocutory injunctions although the House subsequently refused to make the injunctions permanent.
- The rule of unanimity on most decisions was upheld.
Longman Language Activatorto officially accept a new law or proposal► pass
Collocations if a parliament or similar group passes a law or proposal, the members vote to accept it: · The State Assembly passed a law which banned smoking in public places.pass by: · The bill was passed by 197 votes to 50.
► approve to officially accept something that has been planned to happen: · The Medical Research Council said it could not approve the use of the new drug without further tests.· Congress voted not to approve the President's plans for cutting the arms budget.
► ratify: ratify an agreement/treaty to officially agree to accept an agreement that someone else has already agreed to accept: · The US Senate refused to ratify the agreement on weapons reduction.· A 1961 treaty ratified by 125 nations outlawed the production of cocaine.
► be carried if a suggestion, proposal etc is carried , most of the people at an official meeting vote in favour of it and it is accepted: · Chao's proposal for a new downtown parking facility was carried at yesterday's council meeting.be carried by 20 votes/100 votes etc: · The motion to restrict handgun sales was carried by 76 votes (=76 more people voted for it than voted against it).
► uphold if a court or a judge upholds a legal decision made by another court, they decide that it is right and they accept it: · The court's decision upheld state laws prohibiting doctor-assisted suicide.uphold by: · The decision was upheld by the US Supreme Court late last year.
► rubber-stamp if an official committee or someone in authority rubber-stamps a decision, they approve it immediately without thinking about it or discussing it because they have no real power of their own: · The town council usually rubber-stamped anything the mayor sent their way.
WORD SETS► Lawaccess, nounacquit, verbacquittal, nounactionable, adjectiveact of God, nounadjourn, verbadminister, verbadmissible, adjectiveADR, nounadversarial, adjectiveadvocate, nounaffidavit, nounage, nounaggrieved, adjectiveagreement, nounannual return, anti-dumping, adjectiveantitrust, adjectiveAppeal Court, nounappear, verbappellate court, nounarraign, verbarticled clerk, articles of association, nounassignee, nounassizes, nounattachment, nounattest, verbattorney, nounattorney-at-law, nounattorney general, nounaverage clause, bailable, adjectivebailee, nounbailiff, nounbailment, nounban, nounbarrister, nounbeneficial owner, beneficiary, nounbequeath, verbbequest, nounbest efforts, adjectivebid-rigging, nounbill, nounbill of rights, nounblue law, nounbody corporate, bond, nounbook, verbbox, nounbreakdown clause, break fee, brief, nounbroker's lien, burden of proof, nounbusiness entity, buyer's risk, bylaw, nouncabotage, nouncadastre, nouncase, nouncase law, nouncash shell, nouncause, nouncause célèbre, nouncause of action, nouncaution, nouncaution, verbcertificate of incorporation, nouncertificate of protest, nouncertificate of search, nounchain of title, nounchallenge, nounchallenge, verbchancery, nounChapter 7, nouncharge, nouncharge, verbcharges register, chief justice, nouncircuit court, nouncite, verbcitizen's arrest, nouncivil, adjectivecivil law, nounclaim, nounclaimant, nounclass action, nounclause, nounclean, adjectivecloud on title, nouncollusion, nouncommerce clause, committal, nouncommon law, nouncommunity property, nounCommunity Reinvestment Act, nouncommutation, nounCompanies House, nouncompanies registry, company limited by guarantee, nouncompany limited by shares, nouncompany officer, competence, nouncompetent, adjectivecomplainant, nouncompletion, nouncompletion date, compliance officer, compulsory purchase, nounconditional discharge, nouncondition precedent, nouncondition subsequent, nounconduct money, confidentiality clause, confirmation hearing, conflict of laws, nounconjugal, adjectiveconsensus ad idem, nounconsent decree, consenting adult, nounconservator, nounconstituted, adjectiveconstitution, nounconstitutional, adjectiveconstitutionality, nouncontempt, nouncontest, verbcontingency fee, contract of insurance, nouncontract of purchase, nouncontract of service, nouncontravene, verbcontravention, nouncontributory negligence, nounconvey, verbconveyance, nounconveyancing, nounconvict, verbconviction, nouncopyright, nounco-respondent, nouncosignatory, nouncounsel, nouncounty court, nouncourthouse, nouncourt-martial, nouncourt-martial, verbCourt of Appeal, nounCourt of Appeals, nouncourt of inquiry, nouncourt of law, nounCourt of Queen's Bench, nouncourt order, nouncourt reporter, nouncourtroom, nouncramdown, nouncriminal, adjectivecriminal injury, criminalize, verbcriminal law, nouncross-examine, verbCrown Court, nouncurfew, nouncustodial, adjectiveD.A., noundata protection, death sentence, noundeath warrant, noundeclaration of association, noundecree, noundecree absolute, noundecree nisi, noundecriminalize, verbdeed, noundeed of conveyance, noundefalcation, noundefend, verbdefendant, noundeficiency judgment, noundeficiency judgment, de jure, adjectivedeposition, noundeputy, nounderivative lease, desertion, noundiminished responsibility, noundiplomatic immunity, noundirectors register, disabled quota, disbar, verbdischarge of contract, noundisclaim, verbdisclaimer, noundiscretionary, adjectivedisinherit, verbdismiss, verbdispense, verbdisposition, noundispossess, verbdissent, noundissolution, noundistrain, verbdistrict attorney, noundistrict court, noundivorce, noundivorce, verbdivorced, adjectivedocket, noundonee, noundouble jeopardy, noundraftsman, noundrink-driving, noundrunk driving, noundue process, nounduress, nouneasement, nounedict, nouneffective, adjectiveeminent domain, nounempower, verbenabling, adjectiveenabling clause, enact, verbendowment, nounenforced, adjectiveenjoin, verbescape clause, escrow, nounescrow agent, estate, nounestoppel, nounevidence, nounexamination, nounexamination-in-chief, nounexamine, verbexculpate, verbexecute, verbexecutor, nounexecutrix, nounexhibit, nounexpectations, nounex post facto law, nounexpropriate, verbextradite, verbextrajudicial, adjectivefair dealing, false representation, nounfee absolute, nounfiduciary, nounfiduciary, adjectivefinding, nounfirm name, nounfixtures and fittings, nounforce majeure, nounforeman, nounforewoman, nounfreeholder, nounfree pardon, nounfrustration of contract, fugitive, nounfugitive, adjectivegagging order, gag order, noungarnishee, verbgarnishee, noungeneral counsel, noungeneral practice, noungive, verbgrand jury, noungrantee, noungrantor, noungreen paper, noungross misconduct, ground rent, nounguarantee, verbguarantor, nounguaranty, nounguillotine, verbguilt, noungun control, nounhabeas corpus, nounHague Rules, nounhear, verbhearing, nounheir, nounheir apparent, nounhereafter, adverbhereditament, nounhereinafter, adverbhereof, adverbhereto, adverbheritable, adjectiveHigh Court, nounHighway Code, nounhirer, nounhuman right, nounimplied term, inadmissible, adjectiveinalienable, adjectiveincriminate, verbindemnify, verbindemnity, nounindict, verbindictable, adjectiveindictment, nounindustrial tribunal, nouninitiative, nouninjunction, nounin loco parentis, adverbinnocence, nouninnocent, adjectiveinoperative, adjectiveinquest, nouninsanity, nouninstruct, verbintellectual property, nounintent, nouninterdict, nouninterlocutory injunction, invoke, verbJane Doe, nounjob quota, joint and several liability, JP, nounjudge, nounjudge, verbjudicial, adjectivejuridical, adjectivejurisdiction, nounjurisprudence, nounjurist, nounjuror, nounjury, nounjury box, nounjury service, nounjustice, nounJustice of the Peace, nounjustifiable homicide, nounjuvenile, adjectivekangaroo court, nounKing's Counsel, nounlaw firm, nounlawyer, nounlease, nounleasehold, adjectiveleaseholder, nounlegatee, nounlegator, nounlessee, nounlessor, nounletters of administration, nounliable, adjectivelicensee, nounlien, nounlienee, nounlienor, nounlimited liability, nounliquidated damages, litigant, nounlitigate, verblitigation, nounlitigator, nounlitigious, adjectiveliving will, nounloophole, nounmagisterial, adjectivemagistracy, nounmagistrate, nounMagistrates' Court, nounmaintenance, nounmajority, nounmalfeasance, nounmalpractice, nounmarriage certificate, nounmarriage licence, nounmarriage lines, nounmaterial, adjectivematerial fact, nounmemorandum, nounmiscarriage of justice, nounmisdirect, verbmisfeasance, nounmisstatement, nounmistrial, nounM'lord, nounM'lud, nounmoiety, nounmonies, nounmoot court, nounmoratorium, nounmovable, nounno-fault, adjectivenolo contendere, nounnonfeasance, nounnon-negotiable, adjectivenotary, nounnuisance, nounnullify, verbnullity, nounoath, nounopen-and-shut case, nounopen verdict, nounoperative mistake, nounordinance, nounoriginating application, originating summons, outlaw, nounout-of-court settlement, nounoyez, interjectionpalimony, nounpanel, nounparalegal, nounpardon, verbpardon, nounparty, nounpass, verbpassage, nounpatent, nounpatent, adjectivepaternity, nounpaternity suit, nounpatrimony, nounpenal code, nounpenalty, nounperformance contract, perjury, nounpersonal injury, personal representative, personalty, nounpetition, nounpetition, verbpetitioner, nounplaintiff, nounplanning permission, nounplea bargaining, nounpleadings, nounpledgee, nounpolice, verbpositive discrimination, nounpower of attorney, nounprecedent, nounprejudice, verbpreservation order, nounpresume, verbprice-fixing, nounprima facie, adjectiveprimary residence, prime tenant, primogeniture, nounprivate law, nounprivileged, adjectiveprivity, nounprobate, nounprobate, verbprobation, nounprobationer, nounprobation officer, nounpro bono, adjectiveprocedural, adjectiveproceeding, nounproceedings, nounprohibit, verbprohibition, nounprohibitive, adjectivepromulgate, verbpronounce, verbproposition, nounproscribe, verbprosecute, verbprosecution, nounprosecutor, nounprotective custody, nounprove, verbprovision, nounprovisional licence, nounproximate cause, nounpublic defender, nounpublic prosecutor, nounpublic service vehicle, punishable, adjectiveQC, nounquarter sessions, nounquash, verbQueen's Counsel, nounreal property, nounrecess, nounrecess, verbrecognition, nounrecognizance, nounrecorder, nounreeve, nounregulation, nounremand, verbremand, nounrepeal, verbrescind, verbrespondent, nounrestoration, nounrestore, verbretainer, nounretrial, nounretroactive, adjectiveretrospective, adjectiveretry, verbreversion, nounrevocation, nounrevoke, verbRex, nounright of appeal, nounroad tax, nounroot of title, royalty payment, rule, verbruling, nounsaid, adjectivesalami slicing, nounSarbanes-Oxley Act, nounscheme of arrangement, nounsentence, nounsentence, verbsequester, verbsession, nounsettlement date, settlement terms, shall, modal verbshell company, sheriff, nounsheriff court, nounshow trial, nounsitting tenant, nounsmall claims court, nounsolicitor, nounsolicitor general, nounSOX, nounspecial licence, nounspecific performance, speed limit, nounstakeholder, nounstate attorney, nounstate court, nounstated case, statute, nounstatute law, nounstatute of limitations, nounstatutory, adjectivestatutory report, stay, nounstay of execution, nounstipendiary magistrate, nounstoppage in transit, nounsub judice, adverbsubmission, nounsuborn, verbsubpoena, nounsubpoena, verbsue, verbsuit, nounsumming up, nounsumming-up, nounsummons, nounsummons, verbSupreme Court, nounsurety, nounsuspended sentence, nounswear, verbtechnicality, nountenant at sufferance, nountenant at will, nountenant for years, nountenant in common, nountenure, nountestament, nountestator, nountest case, nountest certificate, nountestify, verbtestimony, nounthereinafter, adverbthird party, nounthrough, prepositionticket, nounticket, verbtitle, nountitle deed, nountitle holder, nountort, nountradename, nounTrading Standards, treasure trove, nountrespass, verbtrespass, nountrial, nountrust for sale, nounultra vires, adjectiveunderwriting power, undue influence, noununlicensed, adjectiveuphold, verbverdict, nounvindicate, verbvisa, nounvoucher, nounward, nounwarrant, nounwhereas, conjunctionwill, nounwill, verbwinding up, nounwitness, nounwitness, verbwitness box, nounwrit, nounwrongful termination,
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► uphold/allow an appeal
1to defend or support a law, system, or principle so that it continues to exist: (=give permission for a decision to be changed)· Judge Gabriel Hutton upheld Smith's appeal against a £250 fine.
► uphold a complaint (=say it is reasonable)· The complaint was upheld and the advertisement was withdrawn.
► uphold a conviction (=officially say that it was right)· The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
► a court upholds something (=says that an earlier decision was right)· It seems likely that the court will uphold his conviction.
► uphold the honour of somebody/something (=defend it)· She felt duty bound to uphold the honour of her country.
► uphold somebody’s rights (=defend their rights)· I will uphold the rights of the people of this country.
► maintain/carry on/continue/uphold a tradition (=make a tradition continue in the same way or at the same standard as before)· We maintain a tradition of cider making dating from Norman times.
► uphold values· The new party was dedicated to upholding traditional values.
► uphold a verdict (=officially say that it was right)· This verdict was upheld at appeal.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► appeal· The court of appeals upheld all except the spousal-consent requirement, a judgment affirmed by the Court.· If the appeal is upheld the appellant will be consulted on any statement to be published.· The court of appeals upheld the sentences for the two remaining after one died of a heart attack.· A federal appeals court upheld the ban, approved by California voters in 1996.
► authority· A large portion of the State's scarce resources was absorbed in upholding the serf-owners' authority and subsidizing their income.· The hapless governor, who had vainly tried to uphold the sultan's authority, was beheaded by the janissaries in 1801.· In a society based on serfdom, order depended upon upholding the authority of the serf-owners.· One has a duty to uphold and support authorities if they meet the conditions of the service conception as explained above.
► ban· The High Court upheld a ban preventing the Mail on Sunday from publishing more extracts.· A federal appeals court upheld the ban, approved by California voters in 1996.· Ronald Reagan appointee, was on the panel that unanimously upheld the gas chamber ban Wednesday.
► claim· The House of Lords upheld their claim.
► complaint· And they upheld a complaint lodged by a viewer.
► court· Rather, the courts have upheld commercial contracts incorporating the rules of commodity associations.· The court of appeals upheld all except the spousal-consent requirement, a judgment affirmed by the Court.· A second meaning of the term certainty relates to the probability that the court would uphold the finding of the initial decision-maker.· Although the Supreme Court has upheld agency-shop provisions, states are still free to prohibit agency shops, and some do.· The court of appeals upheld the sentences for the two remaining after one died of a heart attack.· A federal appeals court upheld the ban, approved by California voters in 1996.· A federal court has upheld that deadline, but the Clinton administration has said it can not meet the timetable.
► decision· His decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.· The Multiple Sclerosis Society said that it may seek a judicial review if the decision is upheld.· The rule of unanimity on most decisions was upheld.· His decision was upheld by nearly every senior official in his inner circle.
► dismissal· Nevertheless, the court noted that the overall trend in the statistics indicated a decrease in student enrollment and upheld the dismissals.· Courts have also upheld the dismissal of teachers who are mentally disabled.
► duty· The duty to uphold and support just institutions does not come into play.· Male speaker It's my duty to uphold the law and preserve life.· Tewkesbury Borough Council says it has a duty to uphold planning regulations.· One has a duty to uphold and support authorities if they meet the conditions of the service conception as explained above.· One owes them the duty to uphold and support them.
► judge· In the other corner, upholding the first judge, are the rationalists.
► law· I uphold the law of this realm - and the law states quite clearly that vagrants are rogues and vagabonds.· Impatience and frustration are growing among those who want to see the state uphold the death penalty law.· The fateful consequences of the Bavarian government's failure to uphold the Law of the Defence of the Republic now became manifest.· There is nothing unfair and nothing bogus or malicious about upholding the law and prosecuting people who are charged with breaking it.· Male speaker It's my duty to uphold the law and preserve life.· We do not believe in the soundness of the views which uphold this law.
► order· One is charged with upholding the moral order, while the other equally essential class helps to explain inappropriate affliction.· We uphold the exclusion order as of the time it was made and when the petitioner violated it.
► principle· Proprietors' or publishers' obligations: A positive public commitment to upholding the council's principles should be given.· We shall ensure that all staff receive proper training and are required to uphold the principles of this Code.· While he is generally careful to uphold the Politeness Principle, he wishes above all to preserve his own negative face.
► right· Its view was that the president's decision to sack the government contravened a section of the constitution upholding fundamental political rights.
► state· Although the Supreme Court has upheld agency-shop provisions, states are still free to prohibit agency shops, and some do.· Can teachers be required to swear that they will uphold the federal and state constitutions?· A three-judge district court upheld the state against a claim that the Montana scheme violated Art.
► tradition· Women tend to uphold social traditions and conventions and are more comfortable with stability.· Why is it not upholding this humanitarian tradition now?· She was to uphold the family tradition.· Men see this as exercising their right to free speech, upholding a tradition in cyberspace forged by the early hacker community.
► value· Will it continue to uphold the conservative values of those in power, or will it offer a more radical alternative?· Now, he is an avenger, dedicated to upholding Olympic values.· Yet none was anxious about upholding the values of the right.· A close third was his upholding of conservative values.· The peasantry, it seemed, were being squeezed in order to earn foreign exchange and uphold the value of the rouble.· Men must change sufficiently so that their representation of life and their political expression uphold humane values.· They all consider themselves to be committed Christians and for the most part would uphold traditional family values.
VERB► rule· He said the suit will be amended to reflect the ruling upholding Proposition 209.
a committee that aims to uphold educational standards2if a court upholds a decision made by another court, it states that the decision was correct OPP overrule: The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal.—upholder noun [countable]