prop up

verb

propped up; propping up; props up
Synonyms of prop upnext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With universities competing to pay athletes millions of dollars, some states now are propping up their strained sports budgets in ways not previously seen. David A. Lieb, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 That momentum hasn’t entirely been maintained since, with fluctuating match day attendance figures propped up by big numbers at a single club, Arsenal, though there’s reason to hope this year could mark the next push in popularity. Dominic Preston, The Verge, 19 Aug. 2026 Arday is dead and still being propped up as an example of various crises, by commentators unconcerned with his memory. Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026 Healthcare jobs have been propping up the job market as other industries trail behind in job growth. Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prop up

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prop up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prop%20up. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on prop up

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster