1. (v. t.) To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate.

2. (v. t.) To keep erect; to support; to sustain; to keep from falling; to maintain.

3. (v. t.) To aid by approval or encouragement; to countenance; as, to uphold a person in wrongdoing.

OK accept admire advocate affirm afford support aid allege in support answer approve approve of argue for assert assist attest authenticate back back up backstop bear bear out bear up bless bolster bolster up boost brace buoy buoy up buttress carry cast up certify champion circumstantiate confirm conserve contend for copyright corroborate countenance counter cradle crutch cushion defend document elevate embrace endorse erect escalate espouse esteem favor finance float float high fortify fund give support guard heave heft heighten heist help hike hoick hoist hold hold up hold with jerk up justify keep keep afloat keep alive keep in countenance keep intact keep inviolate keep safe keep up knock up lend support levitate lift lift up lob loft mainstay maintain make a plea not destroy not endanger not expend not use up not waste patent perk up pick up pillow plead for preserve probate promote prop prop up protect prove raise raise up ratify rear rear up rebut refute register reinforce reply respect respond ride high riposte rise sanction save say in defense set up shore shore up shoulder side with sky spare speak for speak up for stand by stand up for stay stick up stick up for strengthen subsidize substantiate subvention subventionize support sustain take kindly to take up think well of throw up underbrace undergird underlie underpin underset up upbear upbuoy upcast upheave uphoist upkeep uplift upraise uprear upthrow urge reasons for validate verify view with favor vindicate waft warrant