supportive
Americanadjective
-
giving support.
-
providing sympathy or encouragement.
His family was supportive of his attempts to be a writer.
-
providing additional help, information, etc.; auxiliary.
manufacturers of supportive materials.
-
Medicine/Medical. helping to maintain a normal physiological balance, as by the intravenous administration of required nutriment.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of supportive
Explanation
To be supportive is to give help or assistance, or to hold something or someone up. If your parents are supportive of your dreams to become a chef, they might enroll you in cooking classes. Supportive is a snuggly word. Anything that supports you, or embraces you and holds you up is supportive. It can be physically supportive, like a girdle that holds your belly in, or emotionally supportive like a loving family or solid network of friends. A parent paying for a child's college bills is supportive financially. Things can be supportive, too — posts holding up a building are supportive. Being supportive is a good thing.
Vocabulary lists containing supportive
Dear Martin
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!
Nothing But the Truth
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!
Father's Day Words
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.
Minorities, women and lower-income voters are also more supportive of the measure than white voters, men and Californians who earn at least $200,000 annually.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
And he is attentive to the hardships of these people’s lives, from the scant public transit options in America’s rural precincts to the need for supportive housing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
She remains in intensive care, receiving oxygen therapy and supportive treatment, the center said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
Apollo said it was "highly supportive" of the airline's existing strategy, adding there was "a significant opportunity to accelerate the operational and commercial ambitions" for the EasyJet Group.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Emma had been born into the carefree, happy, supportive Wedgwood family on May 2,1808.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
