uphold

4 definitions • 6 examples

to defend or keep a principle or law, or to say that a decision that has already been made, especially a legal one, is correct:

As a police officer you are expected to uphold the law whether you agree with it or not.

Judge Davis upheld the county court's decision.

to defend or maintain a principle or law, or to state that a decision that has already been made, esp. a legal one, is correct:

The Supreme Court upheld California’s term limit measure.

to state that a decision which has already been made, especially a legal one, is correct:

uphold a decision/ruling/appeal The court is said to be upholding its decision.

to keep or defend a principle or law:

When he took office he swore to uphold the laws of the land.

The decision by the court upholds the right of rural Alaskans to subsistence hunt and fish on most waters in Alaska.