Cool MateUphold vs You can still keep your promise
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Uphold
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
You can still keep your promise
Top 2,000 (common)
| Uphold | You can still keep your promise | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ʌpˈhəʊld/","/ʌpˈhəʊldz/","/ʌpˈheld/","/ʌpˈhəʊldɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʌpˈhəʊld/","/ʌpˈhəʊldz/","/ʌpˈheld/","/ʌpˈhəʊldɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː kæn stɪl kiːp jɔːr ˈprɒmɪs//🇺🇸 //ju kæn stɪl kip jɔr ˈprɑmɪs// |
| Meaning | To support or maintain something. | You can continue to do what you said you would. |
| Example | We have a duty to uphold the law. | You can still keep your promise to help her. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | consistently, firmly, rigorously, have a duty to, be determined to, seek to, consistently, firmly, rigorously, have a duty to, be determined to, seek to | keep a promise, make a promise, break a promise, keep your word, keep commitments |
| Antonyms | disregard, abandon, violate | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'support' which can be more casual., Using it incorrectly in passive voice, e.g. 'The law is upheld by.', Mixing up the past tense; 'upholded' is incorrect. | Confusing 'keep' with 'make'; 'make a promise' is different from 'keep your promise'., Using 'kept' instead of 'keep' in present scenarios., Saying 'keep a promise' incorrectly as 'stay a promise'. |
| Usage notes | Often used in legal and ethical contexts, such as 'upholding the law' or 'upholding values'. It's appropriate in both formal and neutral settings but less common in casual conversations. | Use 'keep your promise' when discussing fulfilling commitments. It's Neutral and suitable in both formal and informal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Uphold vs You can still keep your promise
What's the difference between Uphold and You can still keep your promise?
Uphold: To support or maintain something. You can still keep your promise: You can continue to do what you said you would.
Can you show an example of each?
Uphold: We have a duty to uphold the law. You can still keep your promise: You can still keep your promise to help her.
Can I use Uphold and You can still keep your promise interchangeably?
Not always. Uphold and You can still keep your promise are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.