support

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   To agree with and encourage a person, group or idea, and often help it succeed.

   Grammar: Takes an object: support the plan, support your friend.

   Patterns

   • support someone
   • support someone in something
   • support a cause

   My parents supported me when I changed careers.

   Many local shops supported the neighborhood festival.

   She has always supported the school's football team.

2. 2verbtransitive

   To hold up the weight of something so that it stays in place.

   Grammar: Takes an object: a beam supports the roof.

   Patterns

   • support something with something

   Four thick pillars support the roof of the hall.

   He used a stick to support himself on the steep path.

   The shelf cannot support such heavy books.

3. 3verbtransitive

   To provide the money or basic needs that someone requires to live.

   Grammar: Takes an object, often a person: support a family.

   Patterns

   • support someone financially
   • support yourself

   She works two jobs to support her children.

   He supported himself through college by delivering pizza.

   The charity supports families who have lost their homes.

4. 4verbtransitive

   To give facts or reasons that show that a claim or theory is likely to be true.

   Grammar: Takes an object such as a claim or theory: the data support the idea.

   Patterns

   • support a claim
   • support a theory with something

   The test results support the doctor's diagnosis.

   Nothing in the report supports his version of events.

   She supported her argument with three clear examples.

5. 5noununcountable

   Help, encouragement or comfort given to someone, or money and resources that keep something going.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable: we need your support, not a support.

   Patterns

   • support for something
   • support from someone
   • in support of something

   Thank you for all your support during this difficult year.

   The plan has strong support among voters.

   The company offers technical support by phone.

Word forms

Common combinations

support a cause

Many celebrities support a cause they care about.

financial support

The students need financial support to continue their studies.

emotional support

Friends gave her emotional support after the loss.

strongly support

I strongly support the idea of a four-day week.

in support of

Hundreds marched in support of the new law.

support the claim

The evidence does not support the claim.

Synonyms and how they differ

back

Back is more informal and suggests publicly standing behind a person or plan, while support covers more kinds of help.

assist

Assist means to help with a task, whereas support often means encouraging or providing resources over time.

sustain

Sustain stresses keeping something going over a long period, where support is the broader and more common word.

bear

Bear is used only for carrying weight, while support also includes help, agreement and evidence.

Opposites

Word family

supporter noun

a person who supports a team or cause

supportive adjective

giving help or encouragement

supportively adverb

in a helpful or encouraging way

supportable adjective

able to be supported or defended

unsupported adjective

lacking help or evidence

Commonly confused: support or suppose?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “support”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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