support
Americanverb (used with object)
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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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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)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
The study, which received support in part from the National Institutes of Health, was published in the journal Neuron.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
In early June, it approved support for farmers, including subsidies for greenhouse exports.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
“Is there support for that in the industry? Is that what people use? They have to be able to back that up.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
And what about support staff like teaching assistants, canteen staff and librarians?
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
The Kane family reluctantly provided Cornelius with additional funds for Maggie’s support.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
The American Heart Association's Healthy Smiles, Healthy Hearts™ initiative supports dental professionals with educational resources about the connection between oral and cardiovascular health.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026
In Germany, where Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports restricting or even banning social media for children, an expert commission has proposed two options: a ban graded by age or platform-specific restrictions.
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
She also supports the administration’s focus on boosting domestic energy production, saying it should reduce energy prices over the long haul for U.S. consumers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
Radio Free Mobile founder Richard Windsor believes the Muse Spark 1.1 launch supports recent reports that Meta is planning a new business line selling computing access.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
Blah-blah-blah...‘estate just north of Thirty-Eighth Street, lots of lawsuits, supports the zoo,’ blah-blah-blah...‘call the police if you know anything,’ blah-blah-blah.
From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green
Some voters have attempted to remove politicians who supported data-center development.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Bass supported AltaMed’s plan for its benefit to the community, said spokesperson Kolby Lee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
“We are proud that our technology supported this mission and helped degrade threats to commercial shipping,” Saronic said in a statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
"Our thoughts at this time are with both victims and their loved ones, who are being supported by specialist officers," he added.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
There sat easily a hundred and fifty mice, at three or four long tables—yardsticks supported by alphabet blocks.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
"It's akin to having weather stations in different locations on Earth. These three payloads are flight-proven and their data is critical to supporting safe human exploration of the lunar surface."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
Yet it encapsulated what supporting this England team was about.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
While it’s still a sitcom, the show embraces sci-fi and elevates a quartet of supporting characters from “The Big Bang Theory” for a crazy multiverse ride with callbacks to the original series.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
CEO Al Cook said the company was making a number of changes to ensure greater business resilience while supporting long-term value creation.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
“Dad, what does this have to do with us supporting you?”
From "Watch Us Rise" by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
