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
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.
Many have used live sports, especially the NFL, to prop up their fledgling streaming services. Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025 Consumer spending has held steady in recent months, helping prop up economic growth. Steve Kopack, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2025 The goal was to prop up and improve the city’s bus system. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2025 Ukraine has doggedly targeted Russia's oil facilities, attempting to cut off Moscow's access to supplies propping up its war effort. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for prop up 

Dictionary Entries Near prop up

Cite this Entry

“Prop up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prop%20up. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prop up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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