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Upholding: meaning, definitions and examples

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upholding

 

[ʌpˈhoʊldɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

law

Upholding means to support or defend a decision or law.

Synonyms

defend, maintain, support.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
support

Used when giving assistance, approval, or encouragement to someone or something. It can be emotional, financial, or physical support.

  • She supports her family by working two jobs.
  • The community came together to support the local charity.
maintain

Used in a general sense to talk about keeping something at the same level or condition over time. It can refer to physical upkeep or the continuation of a state or condition.

  • It's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
  • The company strives to maintain good customer service.
defend

Used when protecting a person, idea, or place from harm, attack, or criticism. It has a more active and often confrontational connotation.

  • The soldiers were ready to defend their country.
  • She defended her point of view passionately during the debate.

Examples of usage

  • The Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling.
  • She is committed to upholding the values of justice and equality.
Context #2 | Verb

morality

Upholding can also refer to maintaining a standard or principle.

Synonyms

maintain, preserve, sustain.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
upholding

Used when actively supporting or defending a principle, law, or standard.

  • The judge is responsible for upholding the law.
  • We are upholding the tradition of excellence in our work.
maintain

Commonly used to indicate keeping something in its current state or condition over time.

  • It is important to maintain a healthy diet.
  • The company spent a lot of money to maintain their equipment.
preserve

Used when preventing something from decaying or being damaged, often associated with historical, cultural, or natural objects.

  • Efforts are being made to preserve endangered species.
  • The museum aims to preserve ancient artifacts.
sustain

Indicates supporting something over a long period, often used with regard to life, activities, or energy.

  • We need to find a way to sustain our energy resources.
  • His determination helped him sustain his career over the years.

Examples of usage

  • He believes in upholding honesty in all his dealings.
  • Our company is dedicated to upholding ethical business practices.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Old English 'uphaldan', which means to hold up or support.
  • It combines 'up', meaning higher, and 'hold', suggesting maintaining or supporting.
  • The term has been used in legal contexts since the 14th century, often referring to maintaining laws or decisions.

Legal Significance

  • Upholding a law means to ensure that it is followed and respected by everyone.
  • Supreme Courts often make decisions to uphold or overturn previous rulings, impacting the justice system significantly.
  • Civil rights movements have fought to uphold equality and justice for all individuals regardless of background.

Cultural Impact

  • Many cultures emphasize upholding family values and traditions as vital for social cohesion.
  • In various religions, believers are encouraged to uphold moral values and teachings from sacred texts.
  • Artistic expressions often depict themes of upholding ideals, such as freedom, justice, and community support.

Psychology

  • Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person's actions do not uphold their beliefs, causing discomfort.
  • Upholding one's values is crucial for personal integrity, leading to better mental health.
  • Group identity can strengthen when members agree to uphold shared beliefs, fostering a sense of belonging.

Education

  • Teachers often encourage students to uphold academic honesty as a critical value in education.
  • Upholding classroom rules helps create a supportive and focused learning environment.
  • Character education programs aim to teach students the importance of upholding respect and responsibility.

Translations

Translations of the word "upholding" in other languages:

🇵🇹 manutenção

🇮🇳 बनाए रखना

🇩🇪 Aufrechterhaltung

🇮🇩 menjaga

🇺🇦 підтримка

🇵🇱 utrzymanie

🇯🇵 維持

🇫🇷 maintien

🇪🇸 mantenimiento

🇹🇷 sürdürme

🇰🇷 유지

🇸🇦 الحفاظ

🇨🇿 udržování

🇸🇰 udržiavanie

🇨🇳 维持

🇸🇮 ohranjanje

🇮🇸 viðhald

🇰🇿 сақтау

🇬🇪 შენარჩუნება

🇦🇿 qoruma

🇲🇽 mantenimiento

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,478, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.