The verb to uphold · Conjugation
Past Simple of uphold
The answer: upheld
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to uphold is upheld.
Example: The court upheld the decision.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | upheld |
| You | upheld |
| He / She / It | upheld |
| We | upheld |
| You (pl.) | upheld |
| They | upheld |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Uphold → upheld → upheld
It works like hold → held. Never upholded.
2. Legal vocabulary
Uphold a decision, uphold the law, uphold values: uphold is very common in law and in the news, but rare in everyday conversation.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of uphold?+
The Past Simple of uphold is upheld, like hold → held (uphold = up + hold).
What does uphold the law mean?+
Uphold the law = to make sure that people obey the law. It is a classic legal expression.
Is it uphold or maintain?+
Uphold = to support and defend (laws, values). Maintain = to keep something in good condition or the same (a machine, a situation).
What does the court upheld the decision mean?+
The court upheld the decision = the court said the decision was right and kept it (after an appeal). It is legal vocabulary.
Why is it not upholded?+
Uphold = up + hold, so it follows the irregular verb hold: upheld. Upholded does not exist.
Related pages: uphold Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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/past-simple
© 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.
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More forms of the verb to uphold are coming soon.