support

1 of 2

verb

sup·​port sə-ˈpȯrt 

supported; supporting; supports

transitive verb

1

: to endure bravely or quietly : bear

2

a(1)

: to promote the interests or cause of

(2)

: to uphold or defend as valid or right : advocate

supports fair play

(3)

: to argue or vote for

supported the motion to lower taxes

b(1)

: assist, help

bombers supported the ground troops

(2)

: to act with (a star actor)

(3)

: to bid in bridge so as to show support for

c

: to provide with substantiation : corroborate

support an alibi

3

a

: to pay the costs of : maintain

support a family

b

: to provide a basis for the existence or subsistence of

the island could probably support three

—A. B. C. Whipple

support a habit

4

a

: to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for

b

: to maintain (a price) at a desired level by purchases or loans

also : to maintain the price of by purchases or loans

5

: to keep from fainting, yielding, or losing courage : comfort

6

: to keep (something) going

supportability

sə-ˌpȯr-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

supportable

sə-ˈpȯr-tə-bəl 

adjective

supportive

sə-ˈpȯr-tiv 

adjective

supportiveness

sə-ˈpȯr-tiv-nəs 

noun

support

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported

b

: assistance provided by a company to users of its products

customer support

2

: one that supports

—often used attributively

a support staff

3

: sufficient strength in a suit bid by one's partner in bridge to justify raising the suit

Synonyms

Verb

• advocate
• back
• champion
• endorse
• indorse
• patronize
• plump (for)
• plunk (for)
• plonk (for)

Noun

• brace
• buttress
• mount
• mounting
• prop
• reinforcement
• shore
• spur
• stay
• underpinning

Choose the Right Synonym for support

support, uphold, advocate, back, champion mean to favor actively one that meets opposition.

support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given.

supports waterfront development

uphold implies extended support given to something attacked.

upheld the legitimacy of the military action

advocate stresses urging or pleading.

advocated prison reform

back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling.

refusing to back the call for sanctions

champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause.

championed the rights of children

Examples of support in a Sentence

Verb

I completely support your decision to stay.

She no longer supports the war.

The senator says that he supports the proposed legislation.

Which presidential candidate do you support?

The study is supported by the American Medical Association.

The country's citizens were asked to support the war effort.

Her friends supported her by signing her petition.

The charity supports needy families.

Bombers were called in to support the ground troops.

The planet's atmosphere cannot support human life.

Noun

The team gets a lot of support from its fans.

I'd like to thank my parents for all of their love and support over the years.

He depended on his wife for emotional support.

He applied for financial support from the state.

the company's friendly support staff

Inspectors found that some of the bridge's supports were weak.

She used my arm as a support and limped to the chair.

These sneakers are designed to give your feet extra support.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The group also supported the Taliban in its two-decade campaign against the former Afghan government that ultimately collapsed amid a U.S. military withdrawal in August 2021. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024

For example, the Department of Commerce awarded $16 billion in incentives and tax credits last month alone to boost projects to support the creation of microchips, which the White House credits with spurring $180 billion in private investments in the semiconductor industry. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

Noun

Not everyone has the resources, the support, or, frankly, the desire for single parenthood. —Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2024

Write clear setup instructions so investors can try everything themselves without technical support. —Andrey Sergeenkov, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French supporter, from Late Latin supportare, from Latin, to transport, from sub- + portare to carry — more at fare

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing support

• child support
• in support of
• life support
• life-support system
• means of support
• moral support
• price support
• self-support
• support group
• support hose
• support level
• support system
• technical/tech support
• visible means of support

Kids Definition

support

1 of 2 verb

sup·​port sə-ˈpō(ə)rt 

-ˈpȯ(ə)rt

1

: to endure bravely or quietly : bear

2

a

: to promote the interests or cause of

b

: to uphold or defend as true or right : advocate

supports fair play

c

: to argue or vote for

support a candidate

d

: assist entry 1, help

bombers supported the ground troops

e

: to provide evidence for : verify

they cannot support the claim

3

: to pay the costs of : maintain

supports a large family

4

a

: to hold up or in position or serve as a foundation or prop for

posts support the porch roof

b

: to keep up the price of (as milk or wheat) by buying large amounts to store at a certain price

5

: to keep something going : sustain

not enough air to support life

supportable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

supportive

-ˈpōrt-iv 

-ˈpȯrt-

adjective

support

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported

b

: assistance provided by a company to users of its products

customer support

2

: someone or something that supports

Medical Definition

support

1 of 2 transitive verb

sup·​port sə-ˈpō(ə)rt, -ˈpȯ(ə)rt 

1

: to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for

2

: to maintain in condition, action, or existence

support respiration

support life

support

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported

respiratory support

2

: supporter

Legal Definition

support

1 of 2 transitive verb

sup·​port

1

a

: to promote the interests or cause of

b

: to uphold or defend as valid or right

c

: to argue or vote for

2

: to provide with substantiation or corroboration

support an alibi

3

: to provide with the means of livelihood (as housing, food, or clothing) especially in accordance with an agreement or court order

4

: to hold up or in position : maintain the physical integrity of

the right to have one's land supported by the underlying land

support

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported

pledged the candidate their support

2

: a means of obtaining the necessities of life (as food, shelter, and clothing) : a source of livelihood especially in the form of alimony or child support

3

: something that provides support