support

¹sup·port

verb \sə-ˈpȯrt\

Definition of SUPPORT

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

— sup·port·abil·i·ty \sə-ˌpȯr-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— sup·port·able \-ˈpȯr-tə-bəl\ adjective

— sup·port·ive \-ˈpȯr-tiv\ adjective

— sup·port·ive·ness \-nəs\ noun

Examples of SUPPORT

1. I completely support your decision to stay.
2. She no longer supports the war.
3. The senator says that he supports the proposed legislation.
4. Which presidential candidate do you support?
5. The study is supported by the American Medical Association.
6. The country's citizens were asked to support the war effort.
7. Her friends supported her by signing her petition.
8. The charity supports needy families.
9. Bombers were called in to support the ground troops.
10. The planet's atmosphere cannot support human life.

Origin of SUPPORT

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: 14th century

Related to SUPPORT

Synonyms: advocate, back, champion, endorse (also indorse), patronize, plump (for), plunk (for) or plonk (for), go in for, go to bat for, hold a brief for, stand up for, stick up for, foot the bill (for), take care of

Antonyms: disprove, rebut, refute

Related Words: adopt, embrace, espouse; abet, aid, assist, help, prop (up), second, side (with); backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce (also reenforce); advance, forward, further; plug, preach, talk up; bail out, deliver, rescue, save

Near Antonyms: baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart; desert, disappoint, fail, let down

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of 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>.

Rhymes with SUPPORT

abort, airport, amort, aport, assort, athwart, backcourt, bellwort, birthwort, bistort, blood sport, Bridgeport, carport, cavort, cohort, colewort, comport, consort, contort, crosscourt, deport, disport, distort, downcourt, effort, escort, exhort, export, extort, fall short, figwort, forecourt, for short, free port, frontcourt, glasswort, Gosport, Gulfport, half-court, homeport, home port, in short, jetport, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, Newport, outport, passport, presort, purport, ragwort, report, re-sort, resort, retort, sandwort, seaport, sell short, Shreveport, spaceport, spearwort, spoilsport, Stockport, toothwort, transport