Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To bear the weight of, especially from below; keep from falling, sinking, or slipping.
  • transitive verb To bear or hold up (an amount of weight).
  • transitive verb To keep from weakening or failing; give confidence or comfort to.
  • transitive verb To keep from falling in value, as by government purchases.
  • transitive verb To provide for or maintain by supplying with money or necessities.
  • transitive verb To furnish corroborating evidence for.
  • transitive verb To aid the cause, policy, or interests of.
  • transitive verb To argue in favor of; advocate.
  • transitive verb To have an enthusiastic interest in (a sports team).
  • transitive verb To endure; tolerate.
  • transitive verb To act in a secondary or subordinate role to (a leading performer).
  • transitive verb To offer help or advice regarding (a product or service).
  • transitive verb Computers To be compatible with (a program).
  • noun The act of supporting.
  • noun The state of being supported.
  • noun One that supports.
  • noun The provision of money or the necessities of life.
  • noun Help or advice offered to those encountering difficulties with a product or service.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun plural In the cloth trade, blocking-boards or wrapping-boards.
  • noun The act or operation of supporting, upholding, sustaining, or keeping from falling; sustaining power or effect.
  • noun That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling; that, on which another thing is placed or rests; a prop, pillar, base, or basis; a foundation of any kind.
  • noun That which maintains life; subsistence; sustenance.
  • noun One who or that which maintains a person or family; means of subsistence or livelihood: as, fishing is their support; he is the only support of his mother.
  • noun The act of upholding, maintaining, assisting, forwarding, etc.; countenance; advocacy: as, to speak in support of a measure.
  • noun The keeping up or sustaining of anything without suffering it to fail, decline, be exhausted, or come to an end: as, the support of life or strength; the support of credit.
  • noun That which upholds or relieves; aid; help; succor; relief; encouragement.
  • noun Theat., an actor or actress who plays a subordinate or minor part with a star; also, the whole company collectively as supporting the principal actors.
  • noun pl. Milit., the second line in a battle, either in the attack or in the defense.
  • noun In music, an accompaniment; also, a subordinate; part.
  • noun The reasonable supply of the necessaries and comforts of life: as, intoxication of a husband injuring the wife's rights of support.
  • noun Synonyms Stay, strut, brace, shore.
  • noun Maintenance, etc. See living.
  • noun Encouragement, patronage, comfort.
  • To bear; prop up; bear the weight of; uphold; sustain; keep from falling or sinking.
  • To endure without being overcome; bear; undergo; also, to tolerate.
  • To uphold by aid, encouragement, or countenance; keep from shrinking, sinking, failing, or fainting: as, to support the courage or spirits.
  • Theat.: To represent in acting on or as on the stage; keep up; act: as, to support the part assigned.
  • To act with, accompany, or second a leading actor or actress.
  • In music, to perform an accompaniment or subordinate part to.
  • To keep up; carry on; maintain: as, to support a contest.
  • To supply funds or means for: as, to support the expenses of government; maintain with the necessary means of living; furnish with a livelihood: as, to support a family.
  • To keep from failing or fainting by means of food; sustain: as, to support life; to support the strength by nourishment.
  • To keep up in reputation; maintain: as, to support a good character; sustain; substantiate; verify: as, the testimony fails to support the charges.
  • To assist in general; help; second; further; forward: as, to support a friend, a party, or a policy; specifically, military, to aid by being in line and ready to take part with in attack or defense: as, the regiment supported a battery.
  • To vindicate; defend successfully: as, to support a verdict or judgment.
  • To accompany or attend as an honorary coadjutor or aid; act as the aid or attendant of: as, the chairman was supported by …

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English supporten, from Old French supporter, from Latin supportāre, to carry : sub-, from below; see sub– + portāre, to carry; see per- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French supporter. Displaced Old English wreðian ("to support, sustain, uphold").

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word support.

Examples

  • Approximately one in every two (52%) adults say they would support increasing NASA‚Äôs budget from¬† one-sixth of one percent to one percent of the federal budget (14% strongly support and 38% support¬† this).

    NASA Watch: Exploration: June 2008 Archives 2008

  • Approximately one in every two (52%) adults say they would support increasing NASA‚Äôs budget from¬† one-sixth of one percent to one percent of the federal budget (14% strongly support and 38% support¬† this).

    NASA Watch: Keith Cowing: June 2008 Archives 2008

  • Then one after another, amid rising enthusiasm; Ukrainean Social Democracy, support; Lithuanian Social Democracy, support; Populist Socialists, support; Polish Social Democracy, support; Polish Socialists support—but would prefer a Socialist coalition; Lettish Social Democracy, support….

    Chapter 5. Plunging Ahead 1922

  • Here, they're all playing nicely at moguldom and at mentoring, professing a commitment to nurturing talent and using the term "support system" in a way that splits the difference between the jargon of self-help and the language of networking.

    Slate Magazine Troy Patterson 2011

  • This is a smart move on his part to gain support from the people, and thats a good quality a President should have.

    House Dems reach deal on heath care bill 2009

  • Our file of articles in support is building rapidly.

    Up Hill Down Dale « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009

  • Obama and Democratic leaders seek a solution that could win support from a Republican or two, and more importantly, help bridge a divide among Democrats on the public option issue.

    Obama quietly seeking health-care deal with key Republican 2009

  • She benefited from $8 million in support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and avoided the major gaffes and scandals that hurt Ms. Whitman.

    With Democrats Ascendant, California Votes Contrarian Stu Woo 2010

  • I just hope that this resolution weaves its way throughout the local Districts, and can gain support from the County.

    Only One Dealmaker « PubliCola 2010

  • He also declared victory for the terrorists when he said "the war is lost" to gain support from the liberal traitors.

    Biden visits Iraq over Fourth of July weekend 2009

Comments

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  • well, i like this site because it's easy to understand the word and example of the word in sentence.

    February 29, 2012