Skip to main content
to shore up

to shore up

30 5.4
Support a weak thing so it does not fall or fail
  • phrasal verb
  • /ʃɔr ʌp/
translation icon : apuntalar
  • To avoid a financial crisis, the government must shore up the struggling banks.
  • efforts to shore up
  • try to shore up
  • shore up support

Well, we started using technology to shore up weaknesses in our own capabilities.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The Lions have made some tepid moves to shore up the pass defense in free agency.

    Blog text (17)
  • Japan's sustained development assistance has helped shore up economic and social stabilization.

    Academic text (2008)
  • We have to really shore up the choices, particularly for our low income communities in rural areas.

  • Newton brought in his own people to the key jobs, to help shore up his new position.

  • As we support the people of Ukraine, we must also shore up our shared resilience, both to protect our people and our values.

  • The losses prompted the bank to announce a share sale to shore up its capital position.

  • The most urgent task of the next decade is to shore up democracy in these countries.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Instead, individuals used the money to shore up depleted bank accounts or pay off overextended credit card bills.

    Academic text (2011)
  • University of Akron President Matt Wilson outlined a two-year plan last week to shore up the school's finances.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Taxpayers have pledged as much as 70 billion euros to shore up the country's debt-laden financial system.

    Blog text (21)

Synonyms

to bolster
vsto shore up
84 4.3

To give extra support to a person, plan, or idea

is aimed specifically at making weak or failing things stronger
to prop
vsto shore up
68 4.1

To hold something up by putting an object under or against it

is used more broadly to strengthen weak things, including non physical cases
to prop up
vsto shore up
54 3.6

Support something so it does not fall or fail

focuses on long term strengthening rather than temporary support
to shore
vsto shore up
  • Specialized
47 7.1

To support a building or wall by placing a beam against it

also applies to non physical situations and to preventing likely failure
to fortify
vsto shore up
3 5.1

Make something stronger by adding support or protection

focuses on stabilizing weak parts to stop failure rather than building defenses
to bolster up
vsto shore up
4.2

To give help to someone or something to make them stronger

targets urgent weakness and risk of failure rather than general improvement
to reconsolidate
vsto shore up
7.0

To make something firm and strong again after it is damaged

is used to prevent likely collapse rather than only repairing past damage
strengthened
vsto shore up
3.0

Has extra support to make it stronger

refers to the act of supporting or strengthening when aimed at preventing failure

Antonyms

305 2.8

To make people and things less strong or effective

270 6.8

Weaken a person or system slowly, often in secret, so it does not work well

How Supported

to fortify
3 5.1
to reinforce
99 3.9
to shore up
30 5.4
to prop up
54 3.6
to support
1.0
to aid
238 1.0

Surface Forms

shore up infinitive
shore up past
shore up past participle
shoring up present participle
shores up third person singular

Morphology

shore + up

The meaning 'to support or strengthen' is directly derivable from 'shore' (to brace or prop) combined with the particle 'up' (completive/augmentative), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the sense. This verb+particle composition is a common, productive pattern in English (and has parallels in other languages), making the expression predictable for B1 learners.

Etymology

Shore up comes from building work: people would put a strong beam called a shore against a weak wall to hold it up. So, to shore up today means 'to support' or 'strengthen' something that might fall or fail.