An uplink synchronization method and a terminal are disclosed, where implementation of the terminal is as follows: a supporting terminal sends the reference signal by using a access identifier of a benefited terminal, and receives a adjustment value of synchronization information of the supporting terminal, so that uplink synchronization is implemented. The supporting terminal does not need to access a network, and therefore interference caused by the supporting terminal to another terminal and the benefited terminal on an access device side is avoided, and a preamble signal resource is reduced.