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
Turf Paradise, the horseracing track in Phoenix, is in line for $1.5 million — while Arizona taxpayers have already spent $12 million in recent years to prop up the tumultuous industry.
—
Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 18 June 2024
The government has since unveiled a sort of string of steps, a rescue package, to try to prop up the sector just because so many families’ wealth is tied up in it.
—Taylor Haney, NPR, 15 June 2024
The Republican from Indianapolis emerged from obscurity when Statehouse leaders heavily propped up her challenge to state Rep. John Jacob in 2022, whose seat represented a southeast portion of Marion County.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 17 May 2024
Not in the Dodgers’ clubhouse before the game, when Yamamoto sat alone at his locker, then with his legs propped up on a black leather couch, quietly reviewing scouting reports as reporters swarmed the otherwise empty room.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for prop up 
Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 18 June 2024
The government has since unveiled a sort of string of steps, a rescue package, to try to prop up the sector just because so many families’ wealth is tied up in it.
—Taylor Haney, NPR, 15 June 2024
The Republican from Indianapolis emerged from obscurity when Statehouse leaders heavily propped up her challenge to state Rep. John Jacob in 2022, whose seat represented a southeast portion of Marion County.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 17 May 2024
Not in the Dodgers’ clubhouse before the game, when Yamamoto sat alone at his locker, then with his legs propped up on a black leather couch, quietly reviewing scouting reports as reporters swarmed the otherwise empty room.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for prop up
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prop up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Prop up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prop%20up. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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