support

verb

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sup·port | \ sə-ˈpȯrt

supported; supporting; supports

Definition of support

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to endure bravely or quietly : bear

2a(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

3a : 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

4a : 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

support

noun

Definition of support (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported

b : assistance provided by a company to users of its products customer support

2 : one that supports —often used attributively a support staff

3 : sufficient strength in a suit bid by one's partner in bridge to justify raising the suit

Other Words from support Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About support

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Other Words from support

Verb

supportability \ sə-ˌpȯr-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

supportable \ sə-ˈpȯr-tə-bəl

\ adjective

supportive \ sə-ˈpȯr-tiv

\ adjective

supportiveness \ sə-ˈpȯr-tiv-nəs

\ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for support

Verb

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

Examples of support in a Sentence

Verb I completely support your decision to stay. She no longer supports the war. The senator says that he supports the proposed legislation. Which presidential candidate do you support? The study is supported by the American Medical Association. The country's citizens were asked to support the war effort. Her friends supported her by signing her petition. The charity supports needy families. Bombers were called in to support the ground troops. The planet's atmosphere cannot support human life. Noun The team gets a lot of support from its fans. I'd like to thank my parents for all of their love and support over the years. He depended on his wife for emotional support. He applied for financial support from the state. the company's friendly support staff Inspectors found that some of the bridge's supports were weak. She used my arm as a support and limped to the chair. These sneakers are designed to give your feet extra support.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Silver and Vincent coordinated the first Orange for the Holidays project last year to encourage residents to shop at and support local businesses during the holiday season. — Ed Wittenberg, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2021 Prior to implementation, your vendor should complete a detailed needs analysis and determine the business processes your system must support. — Sagive Greenspan, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2021 New York City, which received more emergency coronavirus aid than any other metro area in the U.S., will also spend more than $125 million helping support the city's homeless population. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2021 Although Elorza doesn’t support defunding the police, even Chief Hugh Clements has acknowledged that the mayor’s tone toward the department over the last few years has damaged morale. — BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2021 The performers will try to rally citizens across the planet to demand that governments, major corporations and philanthropists work together to defend the planet and defeat poverty; support the campaign, earn tickets and take action. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 9 Sep. 2021 Typically, techs based in schools don’t work during the month of July, but very quickly anyone who could speak Spanish was asked to come in and support K-12 virtual summer school. — Bonnie Tsui, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2021 For the last twelve years, Siegel and his team have worked to recruit, train and support minorities like Daniels to increase diversity in all areas of NASCAR. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2021 The guide is created annually to help parents and educators support young children in developing their reading and literacy skills. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In a preview clip released ahead of the full interview, Olisa was asked whether the royal family support BLM. — NBC News, 10 Sep. 2021 Butler's group text thread with the soccer team was instantly flooded with messages of support and congratulations. — Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2021 Along with building trust within the community, the new major is responsible for developing a plan to divert police calls to specialized services, such as mental health or other support agencies. — BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2021 Last month, according to Pew, that number hit 72% support among the GOP. — Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Sep. 2021 Queerbaiting might be employed by someone running for a political position to garner more support or campaign involvement. — Colleen Murphy, Health.com, 10 Sep. 2021 Besides the mentoring and guidance and moral support for expectant and new mothers, the program also celebrates the new moms and babies with baby showers and birthday parties once the child turns 1 year old. — Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2021 The support card process, which began more than a month ago, has not yet reached critical mass among employees. — Robert Channick, chicagotribune.com, 10 Sep. 2021 What might happen out in the desert with zero official infrastructure, limited law enforcement and medical support and no porta-potties has been an opaque but intriguing proposition. — Katie Bain, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'support.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near support

supply teacher

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supportance

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Last Updated

11 Sep 2021

Cite this Entry

“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/support. Accessed 21 Sep. 2021.

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More Definitions for support

support

verb

English Language Learners Definition of support

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to agree with or approve of (someone or something)

: to show that you approve of (someone or something) by doing something

: to give help or assistance to (someone or something)

support

noun

English Language Learners Definition of support (Entry 2 of 2)

: the act of showing that you believe that someone or something is good or acceptable : approval of someone or something

: the act of helping someone by giving love, encouragement, etc.

: help that is given in the form of money or other valuable things

See the full definition for support in the English Language Learners Dictionary

support

verb

sup·port | \ sə-ˈpȯrt

supported; supporting

Kids Definition of support

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to hold up or in position : serve as a foundation or prop for Posts support the porch roof.

2 : to take sides with : favor Which candidate do you support?

3 : to provide evidence for : verify They cannot support this claim.

4 : to pay the costs of : maintain His income supports a large family.

5 : to keep going : sustain There is not enough air to support life.

6 : to provide help or encouragement to My friends supported me while I was sick.

support

noun

Kids Definition of support (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act of supporting : the condition of being supported

2 : someone or something that supports

support

transitive verb

sup·port | \ sə-ˈpō(ə)rt, -ˈpȯ(ə)rt

Medical Definition of support

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for

2 : to maintain in condition, action, or existence support respiration support life

support

noun

Medical Definition of support (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported respiratory support

2 : supporter

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support

transitive verb

sup·port

Legal Definition of support

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : to promote the interests or cause of

b : to uphold or defend as valid or right

c : to argue or vote for

2 : to provide with substantiation or corroboration support an alibi

3 : to provide with the means of livelihood (as housing, food, or clothing) especially in accordance with an agreement or court order

4 : to hold up or in position : maintain the physical integrity of the right to have one's land supported by the underlying land

support

noun

Legal Definition of support (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported pledged the candidate their support

2 : a means of obtaining the necessities of life (as food, shelter, and clothing) : a source of livelihood especially in the form of alimony or child support

3 : something that provides support