support
Americanverb (used with object)
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supports,
present (3rd person singular)
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supported,
past participle, past
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supporting
present participle
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to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for.
Don’t take down this dividing wall, as it supports the roof.
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to sustain or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, speed, etc.) without giving way.
The specs on this folding chair say it can support up to 200 pounds.
The circuit breaker was not able to support the electrical requirements of three appliances.
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to encourage, comfort, help, etc., under trial or affliction; sustain.
They supported him throughout his ordeal.
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to maintain (a person, family, establishment, institution, etc.) by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for.
It is next to impossible to support a family on such a low salary.
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to give financial assistance to (a person, organization, program, etc.); be a contributor to or patron of.
I try to support the local theater by buying season tickets every year.
Our scholarship fund supports a number of students from lower-income families.
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Computers. (of a manufacturer) to provide regular updates, troubleshooting, service, etc., for (a program or device).
They’re no longer supporting this version of the operating system.
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to uphold (a person, cause, policy, etc.) by aid, public approval, one's vote, etc.; back; second.
He was unable to support the resolution, but did not speak out against it either.
Which candidate do you support in the City Council race?
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to maintain or advocate (a theory, principle, etc.).
Many viewers support the theory that the housekeeper will turn out to be the murderer.
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to corroborate (a statement, opinion, etc.).
Leading doctors supported his testimony.
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to act with or second (a lead performer); assist in performance.
The star was supported by a talented newcomer.
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to undergo or endure, especially with patience or submission; tolerate.
How do you support the constant drama in this office?
noun
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support
plural
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the act or an instance of sustaining, upholding, helping, advocating for, etc..
Without emotional support I would never have made it through.
Support for the party is growing among younger voters.
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something that serves as a foundation, prop, brace, or stay.
Those L-brackets are the supports for the shelf.
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maintenance, such as of a person or family, with necessities, means, or funds.
He paid for the support of the orphans until they completed their education.
- Synonyms:
- keep, subsistence, sustenance
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a person or thing that supports, as financially.
The pension was his only support.
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a person or thing that gives aid, encouragement, etc..
You have been such a support to me over this challenging time.
The revised edition also includes updated daily lesson plans, sample tests, and other curricular supports.
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Digital Technology. a department, team, or individual that offers troubleshooting, instruction, assistance, etc., to users.
If you’re still having trouble signing in, contact support at the number below.
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Computers. regular updates, troubleshooting, service, etc., by a manufacturer for a piece of software or hardware.
Support for this application has been withdrawn.
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an actor, actress, or group performing with a lead performer.
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the material, such as canvas or wood, on which a picture is painted.
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Stock Exchange. support level.
adjective
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serving to assist, such as by providing instruction or solving problems, managing administrative tasks, supplementing the activities of colleagues, etc..
Teachers are calling for smaller class sizes and more support personnel in the classroom.
You will be acting in a support role to the executive director.
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(of socks or stockings) made with elasticized fibers so as to fit snugly on the legs, thereby aiding circulation, relieving fatigue, etc..
She wears support stockings for varicose veins.
verb
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to carry the weight of
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to bear or withstand (pressure, weight, etc)
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to provide the necessities of life for (a family, person, etc)
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to tend to establish (a theory, statement, etc) by providing new facts; substantiate
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to speak in favour of (a motion)
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to give aid or courage to
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to give approval to (a cause, principle, etc); subscribe to
to support a political candidature
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to endure with forbearance
I will no longer support bad behaviour
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to give strength to; maintain
to support a business
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(tr) (in a concert) to perform earlier than (the main attraction)
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films theatre
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to play a subordinate role to
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to accompany (the feature) in a film programme
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to act or perform (a role or character)
noun
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the act of supporting or the condition of being supported
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a thing that bears the weight or part of the weight of a construction
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a person who or thing that furnishes aid
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the means of maintenance of a family, person, etc
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a band or entertainer not topping the bill
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an actor or group of actors playing subordinate roles
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med an appliance worn to ease the strain on an injured bodily structure or part
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the solid material on which a painting is executed, such as canvas
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See athletic support
Usage
What are other ways to say support?
To support something, as a structure or heavy load, is to bear it or hold it up. To support a person is to supply them with things necessary to existence, or to keep their spirits or courage up under trial or affliction. How is support different from maintain, sustain, and uphold? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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presupportnoun
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undersupportnoun
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nonsupportingadjective
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prosupportadjective
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quasi-supportedadjective
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supportlessadjective
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unsupportedadjective
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unsupportingadjective
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well-supportedadjective
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supportinglyadverb
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unsupportedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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supportsimple
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supportssimple
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have supportedperfect
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has supportedperfect
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am supportingprogressive
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are supportingprogressive
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is supportingprogressive
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have been supportingperfect progressive
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has been supportingperfect progressive
Past
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supportedsimple
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had supportedperfect
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was supportingprogressive
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were supportingprogressive
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had been supportingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of support
First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the verb) Middle English supporten, from Middle French supporter, from Medieval Latin supportāre “to endure” ( Latin: “to convey”), from sup- sup- + portāre “to carry” ( see port 5); noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
The verb support means to bear weight or load, or otherwise support. If you build a house with blocks, you can safely remove some of them, but if you remove one that is supporting the weight of the blocks above it, the whole structure can collapse. Timber! If you agree with or approve of a cause, person, idea, or the like, you support it. If you support a certain charity, you may donate your time or money to the cause. The verb support also means to strengthen with new evidence; to corroborate. When politicians make an argument, they support it by providing "facts and figures." Your job is to figure out whether their evidence has been twisted to support their positions. Good luck.
Vocabulary lists containing support
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Victoria Police has said its investigation, with support from the Australian Federal Police, remains ongoing and a motive is yet to be established.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
In the first round, 21.3% of voters in the poorest voting areas where da Silva draws much of his support stayed home, compared with 20.3% in the wealthiest, electoral data show.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
When Parsons fired up his Discord messaging app and went to OpenCode’s customer support channel, it was flooded not with support queries but nonsensical messages saying things like, “Yo,” or “Delete telegram.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
“He’s in line with my thinking,” said Liz Glenn, 63, of Raymond, Wash., listing Christian values, support for law enforcement and “protecting children” as some of her top concerns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Star shot to the top to join the others picking seedpods while I made my way steadily up, trying to find the sturdiest branches to support me.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Mr. Ramaswamy supports building data centers on abandoned industrial sites and giving their surplus generated energy as “free electricity” to neighbors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Public health officials say there is no conclusive scientific evidence that supports using cat’s claw for any health purposes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
"We are here to proclaim Luque's innocence, not with television slogans, but with the evidence that supports it," Rallin said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Vitamin C supports the activity of this enzyme, which helps maintain normal patterns of gene regulation.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026
You don’t need wings because it supports you of its own accord—of its own will resonating with yours—and you feel not only that you can do anything but that you are anything.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
When his wife supported him, branding young Amy Acton a liar, both the girl and her younger brother were removed from Donna Arthur’s custody and raised by their biological father.
From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026
He supported a strong, independent president, capable of representing the people and countering Congress.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Catapult Books, an indie publisher that has supported authors across Southern California and beyond, has been sold.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
"At the time I backed off because who am I to stop a victim of a crime like that from being supported by the officer?"
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
She didn’t want to rain on Penelope’s parade, but she also didn’t want the girl to be disappointed when no one supported her grand scheme.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
Originally from Lula's north-eastern home state of Pernambuco, he grew up supporting him.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
When asked why he is supporting Talarico, Noel said: "He's a young man, he's an honest man, he's got a vision, he's smart, well-spoken, nice, kind, which is what we need."
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
SLB’s planned $4.1 billion acquisition of Kelvion, a thermal-management company, will strengthen its technology portfolio, further supporting the data center business, he adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Finding the right supporting material required testing gels with different formulations, stiffness levels, and surface patterns.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026
Robin pushed, and felt himself moving along with Brother Luke walking and supporting him.
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
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