upheld

USAGE SUMMARY

"upheld" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb that means to maintain or support something, such as a law, decision, or belief. For example, "The court upheld the ruling of the lower court."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Southwood upheld the inquiry's findings that Lawrie acted unfairly and with bias over the former Labor government's offer of a 10-year rent-free lease of the historic Stella Maris site in Darwin to Unions NT.

The Guardian

It has upheld complaints against councils and police forces on 10 occasions – that's 0.68% of the total.

The Guardian

The adjudicator partially upheld her case, recommending that Oxford clarify and amend its policies.

The Guardian

Now it is our job to ensure the sanctity of the vote is upheld".

The Guardian

With the alacrity of a Widow Twankey suddenly called upon to defend fellow guild-member, Mother Goose, Today's guest editor upheld Woolf's damification as an establishment inevitability.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yes, the queen has displayed dignity and upheld certain moral values, but the one who succeeds her because of biological inheritance may be very different.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Bahrain's supreme court of appeal upheld his 10-year sentence.

The Guardian

We are pleased the court has upheld the decision".

The Guardian

As long as national laws are obeyed, the fundamental European right to freedom of movement must be upheld.

The Guardian

European human rights judges have upheld the right of British courts to impose "whole life" prison sentences in the most heinous cases of murder.

The Guardian

A court in January this year upheld the 2009 guilty verdict and sentenced Knox and Sollecito to more than 25 years in prison.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "upheld", ensure that the subject is something that can be maintained or supported, such as a decision, law, or principle.

Common error

Avoid using "upheld" to describe actions that don't involve maintaining or supporting something. For example, it would be incorrect to say "The team upheld the trophy" as "won" or "lifted" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

"Upheld" functions as a verb, typically in the past tense, indicating the action of maintaining, supporting, or confirming something. Ludwig provides examples showcasing its use in legal contexts, such as a court upholding a decision. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upheld" is a verb used to describe the act of maintaining or supporting a prior decision, law, or principle. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used in written English. Ludwig examples show it is commonly found in news and formal contexts, such as legal rulings, where maintaining standards is discussed. When considering related terms, alternatives like "maintained" or "supported" may offer similar meanings. Remember to use "upheld" when something is truly being maintained or validated, avoiding its misuse with inappropriate subjects, as its primary purpose is to ensure a previous notion remains valid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintained

Implies keeping something in its current state or condition.

supported

Indicates providing assistance or approval to something.

affirmed

Suggests confirming or declaring something to be true or valid.

validated

Emphasizes the act of proving something to be correct or justified.

sustained

Highlights the ability of something to withstand or endure.

confirmed

Focuses on verifying or establishing the accuracy of something.

endorsed

Implies giving formal approval or support to something.

preserved

Highlights the act of keeping something intact or preventing it from being damaged.

vindicated

Suggests clearing someone of blame or suspicion.

ratified

Emphasizes the formal approval or confirmation of an agreement or treaty.

FAQs

How is "upheld" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "upheld" is used to indicate that a decision, law, or principle has been maintained or supported. For example, "The court "upheld" the previous ruling."

What are some alternatives to using "upheld"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "maintained", "supported", or "affirmed".

Is it correct to say "upheld" when referring to a physical object?

While technically not incorrect, "upheld" is typically used for abstract concepts like decisions or principles. Using verbs like "held" or "supported" might be more appropriate for physical objects.

What's the difference between "upheld" and "overturned"?

"Upheld" means to maintain or support a decision, while "overturned" means to reverse or invalidate it. They are antonyms in legal and decision-making contexts.