support
[verb]
Synonyms:
- bear, brace, buttress, carry, hold, prop, reinforce, sustain
- provide for, finance, fund, keep, look after, maintain, sustain
- help, aid, assist, back, champion, defend, second, side with
- bear out, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify
[noun]
Synonyms:
- help, aid, assistance, backing, encouragement, loyalty
- prop, brace, foundation, pillar, post
- supporter, backer, mainstay, prop, second, tower of strength
- upkeep, keep, maintenance, subsistence, sustenance

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Antonyms: buck
Contrasted words: battle, combat, counter, fight, oppose, withstand
Related Idioms: align oneself with, be on (someone's) side, take (someone's) side, boil the pot, bring home the bacon, make a living for, take care of
Related Words: applaud, approve, endorse, favor, plunk (for), pull (for), root, adopt, embrace, espouse, defend, maintain, sustain, stand, encourage, fortify, stiffen, strengthen, base, foundation, sustentation

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English Thesaurus: confirm, prove, back up, support, bear something out, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. sup‧port¹ S1 W2 /səˈpɔːt $ -ɔːrt/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: support, supporter; adjective: supportive, supporting; verb: support]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: supporter, from Latin supportare 'to carry', from sub- ( ⇒ sub-) + portare 'to carry']

1. AGREE AND HELP to say that you agree with an idea, group, or person, and usually to help them because you want them to succeed:
The bill was supported by a large majority in the Senate.
support somebody in (doing) something
We need to support our teachers in their efforts to raise standards.
We strongly support the peace process.

2. BE KIND TO SOMEBODY to help someone by being sympathetic and kind to them during a difficult time in their life:
My wife supported me enormously.

3. PROVIDE MONEY TO LIVE to provide enough money for someone to pay for all the things they need:
I have a wife and two children to support.
support somebody by (doing) something
She supports her family by teaching evening classes.
support yourself
I have no idea how I am going to support myself.

4. GIVE MONEY TO SOMETHING to give money to a group, organization, or event etc to encourage it or pay for its costs:
There are a handful of charities which I support regularly.

5. HOLD SOMETHING UP to hold the weight of something, keep it in place, or prevent it from falling:
The middle part of the bridge is supported by two huge towers.
During sleep, our spine no longer needs to support the weight of our body.
support yourself (on something)
I got to my feet, supporting myself on the side of the table.

6. PROVE SOMETHING if results, facts, studies etc support an idea or statement, they show or prove that it is correct:
The results support our original theory.
There is little evidence to support such explanations.

7. SPORTS TEAM British English to like a particular sports team and go to watch the games they play:
Which team do you support?
I’ve supported Liverpool all my life.

8. COMPUTERS to provide information and material to improve a computer program or system, or to make it keep working:
I don’t think they support that version of the program anymore.

9. LAND if land can support people or animals, it is of good enough quality to grow enough food for them to live:
This land can’t support many cattle.

10. WATER/AIR/EARTH if water, air, or earth can support life, it is clean enough, has enough oxygen etc to keep animals or plants alive:
Because of pollution, this lake is now too acid to support fish.
healthy soil that can support plant life

11. support a habit to get money in order to pay for a bad habit, especially taking drugs:
He turned to crime to support his habit.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. support² S1 W1 noun
[Word Family: noun: support, supporter; adjective: supportive, supporting; verb: support]

1. APPROVAL [uncountable] approval, encouragement, and perhaps help for a person, idea, plan etc:
Local people have given us a lot of support in our campaign.
support for
There was widespread support for the war.
in support
They signed a petition in support of the pay claim.
support of
He had the full support of the general committee.

2. SYMPATHY/HELP [uncountable] sympathy and help that you give to someone who is in a difficult situation or who is very unhappy:
I couldn’t have made it through those times without the support of my boyfriend Rob.

3. MONEY [uncountable] money that you give a person, group, organization etc to help pay for their costs:
The European Union is considering whether to provide financial support for the expedition.
with sb’s support
With your support, we can help these youngsters.

4.
HOLDING SOMETHING UP [uncountable and countable] something that presses on something else to hold it up or in position:
The roof may need extra support.
the wooden supports of the bridge
for support
She grabbed at his shoulders for support.

5. PROOF [uncountable] facts that show that an idea or statement is correct
support for
My own research provides some support for this view.

6. COMPUTERS [uncountable] the help or information that you receive to improve a computer system, make it continue working, or use it correctly:
our technical support team

7. CONCERT/PERFORMANCE [uncountable] a band, singer, or performer that performs for a short time at the same concert as a more famous and popular band etc:
We played support to a band called Shallow.
the support band
the support act (=the support band)

8. SOLDIERS [uncountable] help or protection that is given by one group of soldiers to another group who are fighting in a battle:
logistical support
air/ground support (=help or protection that comes from people in aircraft or people on the ground)

9. FOR PART OF BODY [countable] something that you wear to hold a weak or damaged part of your body in the right place
back/neck/knee etc support
⇒ child support, income support, life support system, ⇒ moral support at moral¹(3)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

support
noun
I. help and encouragement
ADJ. complete, full, total | active, considerable, enthusiastic, firm, generous, good, great, loyal, massive, overwhelming, solid, strong, tremendous, unqualified, wholehearted The socialist candidate enjoys the firm support of local industry. the company's generous financial support of the arts The poll revealed massive support for the proposal. The plan received strong support from farmers.
unflagging, unstinting, unswerving, unwavering We would like to thank Edna Hales for her unstinting support over the years.
growing, increased, increasing | continued, continuing | broad, community, general, majority, mass, popular, public, wide/widespread The government has lost majority support in the Assembly.
main | limited, lukewarm, qualified My idea only received lukewarm support from my colleagues.
adequate, sufficient | direct, indirect | long-term people who need long-term support at home
personal The proposal has the personal support of the president.
mutual The parents of the sufferers get together for mutual support.
international | Labour, Liberal, etc. | all-party, bipartisan, cross-party | administrative, economic, electoral, emotional, financial, moral, political, practical, technical, etc. She took her sister with her to the interview for moral support.
government, official, state | air, military, naval | price a price support mechanism
VERB + SUPPORT enjoy, have The policy has the support of the community.
derive, draw, get, receive Which groups does the party draw most of its support from?
enlist, find, gain, mobilize, secure, win Campaigners have enlisted the support of their local MP.
attract, cultivate, drum up, muster, rally, recruit, seek, solicit, whip up | give sb/sth, lend (sb/sth), offer (sb/sth), provide (sb/sth with), throw organizations that provide support and advice to small businesses She threw her full support behind him.
lose | cut (off), withdraw | need, require She will need a lot of emotional support at this difficult time.
count on, rely on Can I count on your support?
announce, come out in, confirm, demonstrate, express, pledge, reaffirm, show one of the first scientists to come out in support of ‘The Origin of Species’ Many TV celebrities have already pledged their support to the appeal.
bolster, broaden, build (up), increase, strengthen The government is trying to build popular support for an unwinnable war.
weaken
SUPPORT + VERB come Support came from all sections of the community.
grow, rise Support for the Liberals has risen to 30 per cent.
fall
SUPPORT + NOUN base He had no support base within the party.
group a local support group for single parents
network | services
PREP. in ~ of an intense campaign in support of the proposal
with/without … ~ The pipeline is to be built with international support.
~ against Farmers mobilized considerable support against government plans to remove import restrictions.
~ among The party wishes to broaden its support among professionals.
~ between mutual support between local cooperatives
~ for The president has expressed his support for the project.
~ from The policy has broad support from industry.
PHRASES a base of support Fears that instability would return under the Democrats gave the government a broad base of support.
a cut/decline in support, an expression of support The rebel leader claimed to have received expressions of support from all the neighbouring countries.
a lack of support, a source of support

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

support
II. money to buy food, clothes, etc.
ADJ. child, family, social | income
VERB + SUPPORT claim Families earning below a certain amount can claim child support.
PHRASES a means of support

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

support
III. sth that carries the weight of sb/sth
ADJ. firm | additional, extra | back, knee, etc. | roof
VERB + SUPPORT give sth The piece of wood under the mattress is to give my back extra support.
PHRASES hold onto sb/sth for support He held onto his wife for support as he left the hospital.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

support
verb
I. help/encourage/agree with sb/sth
ADV. fervently, overwhelmingly, strongly The people of this country overwhelmingly support their president. I strongly support the view that education should be available to everyone.
fully, wholeheartedly | unanimously | actively The group is actively supported by several Members of Parliament.
tacitly | enthusiastically | loyally He has supported the party loyally for over twenty years.
ably The soloists were ably supported by the University Singers.
VERB + SUPPORT agree to, be pledged to, pledge to, promise to He promised to support me at the meeting.
be prepared to, be willing to | fail to, refuse to
PREP. in Very few countries supported the United States in its action.
PHRASES be widely supported These policies were widely supported in the country.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

support
II. show that sth is true/correct
ADV. strongly The evidence strongly supports his claims.
VERB + SUPPORT appear to, seem to, tend to

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

support
III. give sb money
ADV. financially | generously
VERB + SUPPORT help (to)
PREP. through Her parents supported her all through college.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

support
verb
BAD: He couldn't support the way his father used to shout at him.
GOOD: He couldn't tolerate the way his father used to shout at him.
BAD: Are you prepared to support the noise of the traffic?
GOOD: Are you prepared to put up with the noise of the traffic?

Usage Note:
tolerate, put up with, stand sb/sth (NOT support /suffer ) = be willing to accept someone or something, even though the person or situation is unpleasant: 'I'm surprised that she tolerates his behaviour.' 'It's not a bad job, as long as you can stand the long hours.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

confirm if a piece of new information confirms an idea or belief that people already have, it shows that it is definitely true:
Police have found new evidence that confirms his story.
The discovery seems to confirm that people lived here over 10,000 years ago.
prove to show that something is definitely true by providing facts:
DNA tests proved that he was the father of the child.
I think we’ve proved that we are a good team.
back up to provide additional information to help prove that a statement, belief, or explanation is correct:
When you write a history essay, you should back up all your points with facts.
Wright was accused of pretending to be injured, and this was backed up by video evidence.
support to help to prove that a belief, idea etc is probably true:
Do you have any evidence to support these claims?
The notion that women are worse drivers than men is simply not supported by the facts.
bear something out if facts or information bear out a claim or opinion, they suggest that something is likely to be true:
Most of the available evidence bears out the view that students learn better in small classes.
Marriage is not always easy; a fact that is clearly borne out in divorce statistics.
corroborate formal to provide additional information which supports or agrees with something – used in scientific and legal contexts:
Levine claims that a third car was involved in the accident and witnesses have corroborated this.
Professor Carling’s findings have been corroborated by more recent research.
substantiate formal to provide additional information that helps to prove that a statement is correct, especially if the statement is difficult to believe:
A police investigation failed to substantiate the claim that he had been sexually abused.
validate formal to prove that information or results are correct by using scientific tests or very careful checking – used in scientific or technical contexts:
All the information used in this report has been validated by an independent panel of experts.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

help the things you do to make it easier or possible for someone to do something:
Now that I’m working, the kids need to give me more help with the housework.
The book would never have been finished without his help.
assistance help. Assistance is more formal than help, and is used especially about people giving official help:
The police are asking the public for their assistance.
The project received financial assistance from the government.
Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.
He set up the business with the assistance of his two sons.
aid help. Aid is more formal than help, and is used especially about money, food, medicine etc. that is given to countries or people that are in a very bad situation:
Aid is being sent to areas affected by the earthquake.
The US spends billions of dollars on aid to developing countries.
Another driver stopped and came to his aid.
support help and encouragement:
Thanks to everyone who gave us their support.
We could not have won the case without your support.
cooperation help – used especially when people, organizations, or countries work together to get things done, and show that they are willing to do this:
a spirit of international cooperation
The cooperation of landowners was needed for the plan to succeed.
backup extra people, equipment etc that can be used in case people need help:
The officer waited for backup to arrive before making any arrests.
assist formal to help someone:
He was employed to assist the manager in his duties.
Some of the guests assisted with the preparation of the food.
help out to help someone, especially because there are not enough people to do all the work, or they need someone to give them something:
Organizing the school trip will be a lot of work, so I need some volunteers to help out.
My parents have helped us out on several occasions by sending us money.
give somebody a hand informal to help someone to do something, especially by carrying or lifting things:
Can you give me a hand moving these boxes?
Dave wants to paint the kitchen and I promised I’d give him a hand.
lend a hand informal to help someone, especially when there are not enough people to do something:
Scott is moving on Saturday and we promised to lend a hand.
I went over to see if I could lend a hand.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

help to make it easier for someone to do something, by doing something for them or giving them something they need:
Is there anything I can do to help?
Dad, I can’t do my homework. Will you help me?
assist formal to help someone:
He was employed to assist the manager in his duties.
Some of the guests assisted with the preparation of the food.
aid formal to help someone to do something – used especially when saying that something helps your body to do something:
Coffee can aid concentration.
Fennel aids the digestion.
There are plenty of materials to aid the teacher.
help out to help someone, especially because there are not enough people to do all the work, or they need someone to give them something:
Organizing the school trip will be a lot of work, so I need some volunteers to help out.
My parents have helped us out on several occasions by sending us money.
give somebody a hand informal to help someone to do something, especially by carrying or lifting things:
Can you give me a hand moving these boxes?
Dave wants to paint the kitchen and I promised I’d give him a hand.
lend a hand informal to help someone, especially when there are not enough people to do something:
Scott is moving on Saturday and we promised to lend a hand.
I went over to see if I could lend a hand.
give somebody help
Do you want me to give you some help?
ask (somebody) for help
He asked for help with the cleaning.
need help
Some of the older patients need help with walking.
get/receive help
She gets no help from her husband.
offer (your) help
The taxi driver offered his help and we accepted.
provide help
The goverment should do more to provide help for people who are looking for work.
appeal for help (=publicly ask for help)
The police are appealing for help to track down the killer.
enlist sb’s help (=persuade someone to help you)
She enlisted the help of a private investigator to find her missing son.
find help
To get it finished by tomorrow, we’ll need to find help from somewhere.
financial help
We received a lot of financial help from my family.
professional help
You need to seek some professional help.
medical help
She needs urgent medical help.
legal help
You can find free legal help for your problem by logging onto our website.
technical help
I might need some technical help understanding the instructions.
practical help
The organization offers practical help with finding accommodation.
expert help
If the issues are complex, expert help can be sought from the adoption agency.
get/receive help from somebody
You will be able to get confidential help from your doctor.
give (somebody) help
The fund was set up to give financial help to war veterans.
offer help
We offer free help for people with debts.
seek help (=ask for help)
He decided to seek medical help for his drink problem.
assistance help. Assistance is more formal than help, and is used especially about people giving official help:
The police are asking the public for their assistance.
The project received financial assistance from the government.
Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.
He set up the business with the assistance of his two sons.
support help and encouragement:
Thanks to everyone who gave us their support.
We could not have won the case without your support.
cooperation help – used especially when people, organizations, or countries work together to get things done, and show that they are willing to do this:
a spirit of international cooperation
The cooperation of landowners was needed for the plan to succeed.
backup extra people, equipment etc that can be used in case people need help:
The officer waited for backup to arrive before making any arrests.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

support to say that you agree with a person or idea, and usually help them because you want them to succeed:
We will support your decision.
Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the trial.
The tsunami appeal was supported by thousands of people.
back to support a person or plan by providing money or practical help – used about governments or other powerful groups:
The £100 million scheme is backed by the British government.
The people backing him do not have the interests of the club at heart.
endorse to formally and officially say that you support a person, plan, or idea:
Agriculture ministers refused to endorse the Commission's proposals.
get behind somebody/something to support a person or plan and help them be successful - used especially about a group of people:
The England fans really got behind the team.
I really believe in this initiative, but it was hard to find business people who were willing to get behind it.
The police can't do anything unless the public gets behind them.
stand up for somebody/something to say that you support someone or something when they are being attacked:
You were the only person who stood up for me at the meeting.
He stood up for what he believed in.
side with somebody to support one of the people or groups involved in an argument - used especially when you disapprove of this or think it is unfair:
I felt she was siding with her mother rather than standing up for me.
The jury often side with the defendant in these situations.
hold up to stop something from falling:
These poles hold up the outer part of the tent.
His trousers were held up by an old piece of string.
prop up to stop something from falling by putting something against it or under it:
The builders have propped up the walls with steel beams.
carry to support the weight of someone or something – used about something supporting several people, vehicles etc:
The bridge could only carry up to two cars at a time.
The lift can carry up to 12 people.
hold to be strong enough to support the weight of someone or something:
Are you sure the branch will hold both of us?
She prayed that the roof would hold her weight as she crawled along it.
bear literary or technical to hold the weight of something:
The truck did not look strong enough to bear the weight of all those people.
a load-bearing wall
take somebody's/something's weight to be strong enough to support the weight of someone or something:
His damaged leg would not take his weight.
Any large mirrors should have additional support to take their weight.
Make sure you choose a pole that will take the weight of your curtains.
have support
The extreme right-wing parties don’t have much popular support.
give (your) support (also lend (your) support formal)
The American people gave him their enthusiastic support.
The naturalist Sir David Attenborough has lent his support to the campaign.
pledge/offer (your) support (=say that you will support someone or something)
Both the opposition parties pledged full support for the new administration.
get/draw support
The plan drew wide support from parents.
win/gain/attract support
Try to win the support of local shopkeepers.
enjoy/command support formal (=have support)
His views were too extreme to command general support.
drum up/rally support (=get people’s support by making an effort)
Both sides have been drumming up support through the internet.
enlist sb’s support formal (=ask for and get their support)
He wrote to the Prime Minister in an attempt to enlist his support.
mobilize support (=get people to support something in an active way)
Part of their mission was to mobilize popular support for Franco.
build (up) support (=increase it)
Now he needs to build his support by explaining what he believes in.
withdraw support (=no longer support )
He's decided to withdraw his support for the project.
public/popular support
There seemed to be no popular support for war.
widespread/wide/general support
There is widespread support for the Government’s proposal.
strong support
A survey found strong support for the project among hospital staff.
massive support
We have massive public support.
sb’s full support
That view deserves the full support of all farmers.
whole-hearted/enthusiastic support
I want you to know that you have my whole-hearted support.
active support (=approval and help)
Les, with the active support of his wife Pam, has spent several years compiling a list of the prisoners.
unanimous support (=when all members of a group support something)
There was nearly unanimous support for the proposal.
help the things you do to make it easier or possible for someone to do something:
Now that I’m working, the kids need to give me more help with the housework.
The book would never have been finished without his help.
assistance help. Assistance is more formal than help, and is used especially about people giving official help:
The police are asking the public for their assistance.
The project received financial assistance from the government.
Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.
He set up the business with the assistance of his two sons.
aid help. Aid is more formal than help, and is used especially about money, food, medicine etc. that is given to countries or people that are in a very bad situation:
Aid is being sent to areas affected by the earthquake.
The US spends billions of dollars on aid to developing countries.
Another driver stopped and came to his aid.
cooperation help – used especially when people, organizations, or countries work together to get things done, and show that they are willing to do this:
a spirit of international cooperation
The cooperation of landowners was needed for the plan to succeed.
backup extra people, equipment etc that can be used in case people need help:
The officer waited for backup to arrive before making any arrests.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲