support

[ suh-pawrt, -pohrt ]

/ səˈpɔrt, -ˈpoʊrt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR support ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for.

to sustain or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, etc.) without giving way; serve as a prop for.

to undergo or endure, especially with patience or submission; tolerate.

to sustain (a person, the mind, spirits, courage, etc.) under trial or affliction: They supported him throughout his ordeal.

to maintain (a person, family, establishment, institution, etc.) by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for: to support a family.

to uphold (a person, cause, policy, etc.) by aid, countenance, one's vote, etc.; back; second.

to maintain or advocate (a theory, principle, etc.).

to corroborate (a statement, opinion, etc.): Leading doctors supported his testimony.

to act with or second (a lead performer); assist in performance: The star was supported by a talented newcomer.

noun

the act or an instance of supporting.

the state of being supported.

something that serves as a foundation, prop, brace, or stay.

maintenance, as of a person or family, with necessaries, means, or funds: to pay for support of an orphan.

a person or thing that supports, as financially: The pension was his only support.

a person or thing that gives aid or assistance.

an actor, actress, or group performing with a lead performer.

the material, as canvas or wood, on which a picture is painted.

Stock Exchange. support level.

adjective

(of hosiery) made with elasticized fibers so as to fit snugly on the legs, thereby aiding circulation, relieving fatigue, etc.

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Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Origin of support

First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English supporten, from Middle French supporter, from Medieval Latin supportāre “to endure” (Latin: “to convey”), equivalent to sup- sup- + portāre “to carry” (see port⁵); (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb

SYNONYMS FOR support

3 suffer, bear, stand, stomach.

13 sustenance, subsistence, keep.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR support ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for support

1, 6. Support, maintain, sustain, uphold all mean to hold up and to preserve. To support is to hold up or add strength to, literally or figuratively: The columns support the roof. To maintain is to support so as to preserve intact: to maintain an attitude of defiance. To sustain, a rather elevated word, suggests completeness and adequacy in supporting: The court sustained his claim. Uphold applies especially to supporting or backing another, as in a statement, opinion, or belief: to uphold the rights of a minority. 13. See living.

historical usage of support

The English noun support derives from the verb support. The verb comes from Middle English supporten, soport, supporte, from Anglo-French and Middle French subporter, supporter, originally “to suffer patiently, endure,” then “to come to the help of,” and later “to be in favor of, encourage.” The Middle French subporter clearly shows its Latin original, supportāre (also subportāre ), which in Latin means only “to transport or carry (supplies) to a place.” The other senses of supportāre arose in Medieval Latin. Supportāre is a compound verb made up of the preposition and prefix sub, sub- (here in the sense “movement or position up close to”) and the simple verb portāre “to carry, convey, transport.”

OTHER WORDS FROM support

sup·port·ing·ly, adverbnon·sup·port·ing, adjectivepre·sup·port, noun, verb (used with object)pro·sup·port, adjective

qua·si-sup·port·ed, adjectiveun·der·sup·port, nounun·sup·port·ed, adjectiveun·sup·port·ed·ly, adverbun·sup·port·ing, adjectivewell-sup·port·ed, adjective

Words nearby support

supply chain, supply-side, supply-side economics, supply-sider, supply teacher, support, supportable, support area, supporter, support group, supporting

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for support

The reporter-written newsletter has become an obsession among freelancers looking to scrounge up support wherever they can find it.
‘It’s like telling a reporter he can’t have a Twitter account’: Reporters are starting their own newsletters outside of their employer|Max Willens|July 15, 2020|Digiday
Free ad coupons for new customers are not unusual in the online ad space, but as the coronavirus crisis began to take hold several large platforms offered ad credits as a way of support.
TikTok’s self-service platform launch is perfectly timed to kick Facebook while it’s down|Lara O'Reilly|July 10, 2020|Digiday
Businesses had to be supported, people had to be supported in continuing to work.
TheScore CEO John Levy on why sports betting is going mainstream|Pierre Bienaimé|June 2, 2020|Digiday
For example, interventions could include supporting young women through virtual mentoring or phone-based group chats, or any form of feasible group activities that take time that might otherwise be spent with men.
Lessons From Sierra Leone’s Ebola Pandemic On The Impact Of School Closures On Girls|LGBTQ-Editor|May 21, 2020|No Straight News

Governments should identify organisations already focused on sexual and gender-based violence and give them the tools and resources to continue supporting women and girls during the pandemic.
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence During COVID-19: Lessons From Ebola|LGBTQ-Editor|May 12, 2020|No Straight News

British Dictionary definitions for support

support

/ (səˈpɔːt) /

verb (tr)

to carry the weight of

to bear or withstand (pressure, weight, etc)

to provide the necessities of life for (a family, person, etc)

to tend to establish (a theory, statement, etc) by providing new facts; substantiate

to speak in favour of (a motion)

to give aid or courage to

to give approval to (a cause, principle, etc); subscribe toto support a political candidature

to endure with forbearanceI will no longer support bad behaviour

to give strength to; maintainto support a business

(tr) (in a concert) to perform earlier than (the main attraction)

films theatre

to play a subordinate role to
to accompany (the feature) in a film programme

to act or perform (a role or character)

noun

the act of supporting or the condition of being supported

a thing that bears the weight or part of the weight of a construction

a person who or thing that furnishes aid

the means of maintenance of a family, person, etc

a band or entertainer not topping the bill

the support an actor or group of actors playing subordinate roles

med an appliance worn to ease the strain on an injured bodily structure or part

the solid material on which a painting is executed, such as canvas

See athletic support

Derived forms of support

supportless, adjective

Word Origin for support

C14: from Old French supporter, from Latin supportāre to bring, from sub- up + portāre to carry

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for support

support

[ sə-pôrt′ ]

v.

To bear the weight of, especially from below.

To hold in position so as to keep from falling, sinking, or slipping.

To be capable of bearing; withstand.

To keep from weakening or failing; strengthen.

To provide for or maintain, by supplying with money or necessities.

To endure; tolerate.

n.

The act of supporting.

The state of being supported.

One that supports or maintains.

Maintenance, as of a family, with the necessities of life.

MEANINGS

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support

verb (used with object)

noun

adjective

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Origin of support

SYNONYMS FOR support

synonym study for support

historical usage of support

OTHER WORDS FROM support

Words nearby support

Example sentences from the Web for support

British Dictionary definitions for support

verb (tr)

noun

Derived forms of support

Word Origin for support

Medical definitions for support

v.

n.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

support

verb (used with object)

noun

adjective

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of support

SYNONYMS FOR support

synonym study for support

historical usage of support

OTHER WORDS FROM support

Words nearby support

Words related to support

Example sentences from the Web for support

British Dictionary definitions for support

verb (tr)

noun

Derived forms of support

Word Origin for support

Medical definitions for support

v.

n.