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Upheld: meaning, definitions and examples

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upheld

 

[ ʌpˈhoʊld ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal context

To uphold means to maintain or support something, particularly a decision, law, or principle. When a higher court upholds a decision made by a lower court, it means that the lower court's ruling remains in effect. Upholding a law suggests that the law is being enforced and respected. This term is often used in legal and formal contexts to indicate agreement or validation of a specific outcome.

Synonyms

confirm, endorse, maintain, support, sustain

Examples of usage

  • The court upheld the previous ruling.
  • The judge upheld the law after careful consideration.
  • He upheld the principles of justice and fairness.
  • The organization upheld its commitment to equality.

Translations

Translations of the word "upheld" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mantido

🇮🇳 समर्थित

🇩🇪 aufrechterhalten

🇮🇩 dijaga

🇺🇦 підтримуваний

🇵🇱 utrzymany

🇯🇵 維持された

🇫🇷 maintenu

🇪🇸 mantenido

🇹🇷 korunan

🇰🇷 유지된

🇸🇦 مدعوم

🇨🇿 udržovaný

🇸🇰 udržiavaný

🇨🇳 维持的

🇸🇮 ohranjen

🇮🇸 haldið

🇰🇿 ұсталған

🇬🇪 შენარჩუნებული

🇦🇿 saxlanılmış

🇲🇽 mantenido

Etymology

The word 'uphold' originates from the Old English term 'uphaldan', where 'up' signifies 'higher' or 'above', and 'haldan' means 'to hold'. It evolved through the Middle English 'upholden', which retained the similar meaning of holding something up or supporting it. The prefix 'up' emphasizes the aspect of elevation, suggesting an action of lifting or supporting something to a higher status. Historically, the term has been used in various contexts, especially within legal frameworks, to refer to the act of maintaining or reinforcing decisions and principles. Its usage has solidified in the legal domain, where officials and judges are often expected to uphold laws and moral standards.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,455 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.