Irregular verb
The verb to uphold
uphold → upheld → upheld
B2Meaning: to support and protect a law or value; to confirm a decision (in court) · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they uphold - Past Simple:
upheld(like hold → held) - Past participle:
upheld - -ing form:
upholding
Conjugation of the verb to uphold
Present Simple
| I | uphold |
| You | uphold |
| He / She / It | upholds |
| We | uphold |
| You (pl.) | uphold |
| They | uphold |
Past Simple
| I | upheld |
| You | upheld |
| He / She / It | upheld |
| We | upheld |
| You (pl.) | upheld |
| They | upheld |
All the forms of the verb to uphold
Present Simple
Full pageuphold / upholds
“Judges uphold the law.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are upholding
“I am upholding the rules right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageupheld
“The court upheld the decision.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were upholding
“I was upholding the rules when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has upheld
“I have already upheld the rules.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad upheld
“She had already upheld the rules when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill uphold
“I will uphold the rules tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to uphold
“I'm going to uphold the rules this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould uphold
“I would uphold the rules if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to uphold
1. Upholding laws and values
- We uphold democratic values.
2. Confirming a decision (court)
In law, uphold a verdict = to say that it was right and keep it.
- The court upheld the verdict.
A common mistake
1. Upholstery
Upholstery = the soft cover and padding of chairs and sofas. It has the same old root as uphold, but today its meaning is not related. Don't use it to talk about laws or values.
What's next?
You can conjugate to uphold. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of uphold?+
The Past Simple of uphold is upheld. It works like hold → held (uphold = up + hold). Uphold → upheld → upheld.
What does uphold the law mean?+
Uphold the law means to make sure that people obey the law. It is what the police and judges do: Police officers uphold the law. It is classic legal vocabulary.
What does uphold a decision mean?+
In law, uphold a decision means to say that an earlier decision was right, after an appeal (when a higher court looks at the case again). The Court of Appeal upheld the verdict: it kept the decision. The opposite is overturn (to cancel the decision).
What is the difference between uphold and maintain?+
Uphold = to support and defend laws, values or ideas. Maintain = to keep something in good condition (a machine, a building) or to keep something the same (a relationship). Uphold values. Maintain equipment. The two words feel different.
Is upholstery related to uphold?+
By its history, yes; by its meaning, no. Upholstery is the soft material and padding that covers chairs and sofas. The word comes from upholder, an old name for the person who made and repaired furniture, and upholder comes from uphold. But today the two meanings are not related at all.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/uphold
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.