1 B2 neutral
To physically support or reinforce a weak structure to prevent it from collapsing
"Engineers worked through the night to shore up the damaged sea wall before the next storm."
separable
shore up
B2 neutral separable transitive
To support or strengthen something that is weak, failing, or under threat
In plain English
To make something stronger so it doesn't break or fail
What does "shore up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To strengthen or stabilise something (an institution, economy, relationship, or position) that is at risk of failing
"The government announced new measures to shore up the banking sector after a week of falling share prices."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
In construction, to place timber shores (supports) against a wall to prevent collapse
Actually means
To make something stronger so it doesn't break or fail
Usage tip
Used in both physical and figurative contexts. In the physical sense, it refers to supporting structures (walls, buildings). The figurative sense is more common — used in economics, politics, and relationships. Often seen in news headlines.
Words that pair with "shore up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
economy support defences confidence coalition position bank building
How to conjugate "shore up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
shore up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
shores up
he/she/it
Past simple
shored up
yesterday
Past participle
shored up
have + pp
-ing form
shoring up
continuous
Hear "shore up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "shore up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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