uphold
Base form
uphold
/ʌpˈhəʊld/
Past simple
upheld
/ʌpˈheld/
Past participle
upheld
/ʌpˈheld/
MeaningC1
to support a decision or law, or confirm that it is right
to uphold a complaint
In use
- After a modal verb · Form 1The police must uphold the law.
- Question · Form 1Will the court uphold the ban?
- Past simple · Form 2Last week the judge upheld the original decision.
- Past simple · Form 2In 2015 the court upheld her right to stay in the country.
- Passive · Form 3The complaint was upheld, and she got her money back.
- Present perfect · Form 3The school has always upheld high standards.
Watch out
Upheld keeps held from hold: upholded and upholden are wrong.
Same pattern
A — B — BForms two and three are the same
Irregular VerbsLearn all three forms for good
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