prop up
phrasal verb
propped up; propping up; props up
1
: to stop (something) from falling or slipping by placing something under or against it
We propped up the beams with long boards.
propped the plant stems up
2
: to give help, encouragement, or support to (someone)
His faith propped him up in times of crisis.
Examples of prop up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Without external forces to prop up the government, the Taliban was able to return, and Afghanistan’s history of conflict continued.
—
Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
Related Articles Americans are waking up to the reality of the U.S. immigration system
How badly will taxpayers be fleeced to prop up the 2028 Olympics?
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 11 Apr. 2025
The data, compiled by the Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Harrisburg, raises questions about the amount Pennsylvania spends to prop up its mass transit systems.
—Christen Smith | The Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Apr. 2025
And what are your thoughts on the way that the character, for better or for worse, has been used and propped up as a bastion of masculinity in pop culture?
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prop up
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Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
Related Articles Americans are waking up to the reality of the U.S. immigration system
How badly will taxpayers be fleeced to prop up the 2028 Olympics?
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 11 Apr. 2025
The data, compiled by the Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Harrisburg, raises questions about the amount Pennsylvania spends to prop up its mass transit systems.
—Christen Smith | The Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Apr. 2025
And what are your thoughts on the way that the character, for better or for worse, has been used and propped up as a bastion of masculinity in pop culture?
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prop up
Cite this Entry
“Prop up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prop%20up. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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