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1. sup·port

   /səˈpôrt/

   verb

   • 1. bear all or part of the weight of; hold up: "the dome was supported by a hundred white columns" Similar hold up, bear, carry, prop up, keep up, ... morebolster up, brace, shore up, underpin, buttress, reinforce
   • 2. give assistance to, especially financially; enable to function or act: "the government gives $2.5 billion a year to support the activities of the voluntary sector" Similar help, aid, assist, contribute to, give a donation to, ... moregive money to, back, underwrite, subsidize, fund, finance, succor, informal:bankroll, back, champion, give help to, help, assist, aid, be on the side of, side with, favor, prefer, abet, aid and abet, encourage, vote for, ally oneself with, stand behind, fall in with, stand up for, defend, take someone's part, take up the cudgels for, sponsor, vouch for, second, promote, endorse, sanction, approve of, give one's blessing to, smile on, informal:stick up for, throw one's weight behindOpposite oppose
   • ▪ provide with a home and the necessities of life: "my main concern was to support my family" Similar provide for, provide sustenance for, maintain, sustain, keep, ... moretake care of, look after
   • ▪ produce enough food and water for; be capable of sustaining: "the land had lost its capacity to support life"
   • ▪ give approval, comfort, or encouragement to: "the proposal was supported by many delegates" Similar give moral support to, give strength to, be a source of strength to, comfort, bring comfort to, ... moresustain, encourage, buoy up, hearten, fortify, console, solace, give sympathy to, reassure, succor, soothe, informal:buck up, advocate, promote, further, champion, back, be on the side of, espouse, espouse the cause of, be in favor of, recommend, defend, subscribe toOpposite neglect, abandon
   • ▪ be actively interested in and concerned for the success of (a particular sports team): "fans should always support their team fully, no matter what"
   • ▪ (of a pop or rock group or performer) function as a secondary act to (another) at a concert.
   • 3. suggest the truth of; corroborate: "the studies support our findings" Similar substantiate, back up, give force to, give weight to, bear out, ... morecorroborate, confirm, attest to, verify, prove, validate, authenticate, endorse, ratify, documentOpposite contradict, undermine
   • 4. (of a computer or operating system) allow the use or operation of (a program, language, or device): "the new versions do not support the graphical user interface standard"
   • 5. endure; tolerate: "at work during the day I could support the grief" Similar endure, bear, put up with, tolerate, stand, ... moreabide, suffer, stomach, brook, sustain, shoulder, weather

   noun

   • 1. a thing that bears the weight of something or keeps it upright: "the best support for a camera is a tripod" Similar pillar, post, prop, underprop, underpinning, ... morebase, substructure, foundation, brace, buttress, abutment, bolster, upright, stay, stand, trestle, crutch, plinth
   • ▪ the action or state of bearing the weight of something or someone or of being so supported: "she clutched the sideboard for support"
   • 2. material assistance: "he urged that military support be sent to protect humanitarian convoys" Similar maintenance, keep, sustenance, subsistence, food and accommodation, ... morecontributions, backing, donations, money, subsidy, funding, funds, finance, capital, backing, help, assistance, aid, votes, endorsement, sanction, approval, blessing, patronage, advocacy, backing, promotion, championship, espousal, defense, recommendation, recommending, argument for, arguing for
   • ▪ approval, encouragement, or comfort: "the paper printed many letters in support of the government" Similar moral support, friendship, strengthening, strength, encouragement, ... morebuoying up, heartening, fortification, consolation, solace, succor, relief, easement, informal:bucking up, comfort, help, assistance, tower of strength, prop, backbone, mainstay
   • ▪ a source of comfort or encouragement: "he was a great support when her father died" Similar moral support, friendship, strengthening, strength, encouragement, ... morebuoying up, heartening, fortification, consolation, solace, succor, relief, easement, informal:bucking up, comfort, help, assistance, tower of strength, prop, backbone, mainstay
   • ▪ technical help given to the user of a computer or other product.
   • ▪ a secondary act at a pop or rock concert: "a support band"

   Word Origin Middle English (originally in the sense ‘tolerate’): from Old French supporter, from Latin supportare, from sub- ‘from below’ + portare ‘carry’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. supportability noun
   • 2. supportable adjective
   • 3. supportably adverb
   • 4. supportless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 11

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