To uphold means to support, maintain, or defend something important like a rule, principle, or decision. When judges uphold a law, they enforce it and make sure people follow it. When a principal upholds a school rule about no running in the hallways, she makes sure students respect that rule even when they complain.

The word often appears when someone has the power to either keep something in place or let it fall apart. A referee upholds the rules of the game by calling fouls fairly. An appeals court might uphold a lower court's decision, meaning they agree with it and let it stand. Parents uphold family values by living according to them and teaching them to their children.

Upholding something usually takes effort and sometimes courage. It's easy to ignore a rule when no one's watching, or to abandon a principle when it becomes inconvenient. But when you uphold your commitments, you honor them even when it's difficult. A friend who upholds loyalty stands by you even when others turn away.