uphold

uphold — verb

1. to actively protect and support a principle, law, tradition, or moral standard,

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to actively protect and support a principle, law, tradition, or moral standard, ensuring it remains respected and followed over time

例句

Aiko's father always taught her to uphold the family's traditions with pride.

collocation: uphold traditions

The United Nations works to uphold peace and security across all nations.

collocation: uphold peace

同義詞
  • support

    more general; can apply to people as well as ideas

  • defend

    stronger connotation of facing opposition or attack

  • maintain

    focuses on keeping something in its existing state

  • champion

    more active and enthusiastic; suggests promoting a cause publicly

反義詞
  • violate

    to break or fail to respect a principle or law

  • abandon

    to give up a principle or standard entirely

文法句型

uphold + noun (principle / law / value / tradition)

用法筆記

This sense is common in formal, legal, ethical, and institutional contexts. The subject is typically a person, group, or organisation with moral or official authority.

常見錯誤

❌The store upholds low prices for customers.
✅The store keeps prices low for customers.
💡'uphold' is used for principles and decisions, not for maintaining prices or quantities.
❌He upheld his hand to ask a question.
✅He raised his hand to ask a question.
💡'uphold' no longer means 'hold up physically' in modern English.

2. when a court or official body declares that an earlier judgment, decision, or le

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

when a court or official body declares that an earlier judgment, decision, or legal ruling is valid and should remain in place

例句

The appeal court upheld the original verdict and refused to change it.

passive: appeal court upheld [ruling]

Justice Wen upheld the decision after carefully reviewing all the evidence.

同義詞
  • confirm

    more general; can be used outside legal contexts

  • affirm

    formal legal term with the same core meaning

  • sustain

    common in legal contexts, especially in US courts

  • endorse

    slightly less formal; can refer to non-legal approvals

反義詞
  • overturn

    to reverse a previous decision or ruling

  • reject

    to refuse to accept an appeal or request

文法句型

uphold + noun (decision / ruling / verdict / judgment)

be upheld (passive)

用法筆記

The subject is nearly always a court, judge, committee, or other authority with the power to review an earlier decision. Frequently used in the passive voice: 'The verdict was upheld.'

常見錯誤

❌The police upheld the suspect's arrest.
✅The court upheld the suspect's arrest.
💡only a reviewing authority can 'uphold' a decision; police action itself is not reviewed in this sense.
❌The judge upheld the defendant guilty.
✅The judge upheld the guilty verdict.
💡'uphold' takes a decision or ruling, not a person, as its object.