Adjacent Words

Support definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SUPPORT, v.t. [L. supporto; sub and porto, to carry.]
1. To bear; to sustain; to uphold; as, a prop or pillar supports a structure; an abutment supports an arch; the stem of a tree supports the branches. Every edifice must have a foundation to support it; a rope or cord supports a weight.
2. To endure without being overcome; as, to support pain, distress or misfortunes.
This fierce demeanor and his insolence,
The patience of a God could not support.
3. To bear; to endure; as, to support fatigues or hardships; to support violent exertions. The eye will not support the light of the sun's disk.
4. To sustain; to keep from fainting or sinking; as, to support the courage or spirits.
5. To sustain; to act or represent well; as, to support the character or king Lear; to support the part assigned.
6. To bear; to supply funds for or the means of continuing; as, to support the annual expenses of government.
7. To sustain; to carry on; as, to support a war or a contest; to support an argument or debate.
8. To maintain with provisions and the necessary means of living; as, to support a family; to support a son in college; to support the ministers of the gospel.
9. To maintain; to sustain; to keep from failing; as, to support life; to support the strength by nourishment.
10. To sustain without change or dissolution; as, clay supports an intense heat.
11. To bear; to keep from sinking; as, water supports ships and other bodies; air supports a balloon.
12. To bear without being exhausted; to be able to pay; as, to support taxes or contributions.
13. To sustain; to maintain; as, to support a good character.
14. To maintain; to verify; to make good; to substantiate. The testimony is not sufficient to support the charges; the evidence will not support the statements or allegations; the impeachment is well supported by evidence.
15. To uphold by aid or countenance; as, to support a friend or a party.
16. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to be able to support one's own cause.
SUPPORT, n. The act or operation of upholding or sustaining.
1. That which upholds, sustains or keeps from falling, as a prop, a pillar, a foundation of any kind.
2. That which maintains life; as, food is the support of life, of the body, of strength. Oxygen or vital air has been supposed to be the support of respiration and of heat in the blood.
3. Maintenance; subsistence; as an income sufficient for the support of a family; or revenue for the support of the army and navy.
4. Maintenance; an upholding; continuance in any state, or preservation from falling, sinking or failing; as taxes necessary for the support of public credit; a revenue for the support of government.
5. In general, the maintenance or sustaining of any thing without suffering it to fail, decline or languish; as the support of health, spirits, strength or courage; the support of reputation, credit, etc.
6. That which upholds or relieves; aid; help; succor; assistance.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities; "his support kept the family together"; "they gave him emotional support during difficult times"
2: aiding the cause or policy or interests of; "the president no longer has the support of his own party"; "they developed a scheme of mutual support"
3: something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest; "the policy found little public support"; "his faith was all the support he needed"; "the team enjoyed the support of their fans"
4: a military operation (often involving new supplies of men and materiel) to strengthen a military force or aid in the performance of its mission; "they called for artillery support" [syn: support, reinforcement, reenforcement]
5: documentary validation; "his documentation of the results was excellent"; "the strongest support for this view is the work of Jones" [syn: documentation, support]
6: the financial means whereby one lives; "each child was expected to pay for their keep"; "he applied to the state for support"; "he could no longer earn his own livelihood" [syn: support, keep, livelihood, living, bread and butter, sustenance]
7: supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation; "the statue stood on a marble support"
8: the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening; "he leaned against the wall for support" [syn: support, supporting]
9: a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts [syn: accompaniment, musical accompaniment, backup, support]
10: any device that bears the weight of another thing; "there was no place to attach supports for a shelf"
11: financial resources provided to make some project possible; "the foundation provided support for the experiment" [syn: support, financial support, funding, backing, financial backing] v
1: give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to; "She supported him during the illness"; "Her children always backed her up" [syn: support, back up]
2: support materially or financially; "he does not support his natural children"; "The scholarship supported me when I was in college"
3: be behind; approve of; "He plumped for the Labor Party"; "I backed Kennedy in 1960" [syn: back, endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support]
4: be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "The beam holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?" [syn: hold, support, sustain, hold up]
5: establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; "his story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the defendant" [syn: confirm, corroborate, sustain, substantiate, support, affirm] [ant: contradict, negate]
6: adopt as a belief; "I subscribe to your view on abortion" [syn: subscribe, support]
7: support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm; "The stories and claims were born out by the evidence" [syn: corroborate, underpin, bear out, support]
8: argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike" [syn: defend, support, fend for]
9: play a subordinate role to (another performer); "Olivier supported Gielgud beautifully in the second act"
10: be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could" [syn: patronize, patronise, patronage, support, keep going]
11: put up with something or somebody unpleasant; "I cannot bear his constant criticism"; "The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks"; "he learned to tolerate the heat"; "She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage" [syn: digest, endure, stick out, stomach, bear, stand, tolerate, support, brook, abide, suffer, put up]

Merriam Webster's

I. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French supporter, from Late Latin supportare, from Latin, to transport, from sub- + portare to carry — more at fare Date: 14th century 1. to endure bravely or quietly ; bear 2. a. (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> 3. a. 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> 4. a. 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 • supportability noun • supportable adjective • supportive adjective • supportiveness noun Synonyms: 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>. II. noun Date: 14th century 1. a. 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

U.S. Military Dictionary

1. The action of a force that aids, protects, complements, or sustains another force in accordance with a directive requiring such action. 2. A unit that helps another unit in battle. 3. An element of a command that assists, protects, or supplies other forces in combat. See also close support; direct support; general support; interdepartmental or agency support; international logistic support; inter-Service support; mutual support. (JP 1)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v.tr. 1 carry all or part of the weight of. 2 keep from falling or sinking or failing. 3 provide with a home and the necessities of life (has a family to support). 4 enable to last out; give strength to; encourage. 5 bear out; tend to substantiate or corroborate (a statement, charge, theory, etc.). 6 give help or countenance to, back up; second, further. 7 speak in favour of (a resolution etc.). 8 be actively interested in (a particular team or sport). 9 take a part that is secondary to (a principal actor etc.). 10 assist (a lecturer etc.) by one's presence. 11 endure, tolerate (can no longer support the noise). 12 maintain or represent (a part or character) adequately. 13 subscribe to the funds of (an institution). --n. 1 the act or an instance of supporting; the process of being supported. 2 a person or thing that supports. Phrases and idioms: in support of in order to support. supporting film (or picture etc.) a less important film in a cinema programme. support price a minimum price guaranteed to a farmer for agricultural produce and maintained by subsidy etc. Derivatives: supportable adj. supportability n. supportably adv. supportingly adv. supportless adj. Etymology: ME f. OF supporter f. L supportare (as SUB-, portare carry)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Support Sup*port", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supported; p. pr. & vb. n. Supporting.] [F. supporter, L. supportare to carry on, to convey, in LL., to support, sustain; sub under + portare to carry. See Port demeanor.] 1. To bear by being under; to keep from falling; to uphold; to sustain, in a literal or physical sense; to prop up; to bear the weight of; as, a pillar supports a structure; an abutment supports an arch; the trunk of a tree supports the branches. 2. To endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in character; to sustain; as, to support pain, distress, or misfortunes. This fierce demeanor and his insolence The patience of a god could not support. --Dryden. 3. To keep from failing or sinking; to solace under affictive circumstances; to assist; to encourage; to defend; as, to support the courage or spirits. 4. To assume and carry successfully, as the part of an actor; to represent or act; to sustain; as, to support the character of King Lear. 5. To furnish with the means of sustenance or livelihood; to maintain; to provide for; as, to support a family; to support the ministers of the gospel. 6. To carry on; to enable to continue; to maintain; as, to support a war or a contest; to support an argument or a debate. 7. To verify; to make good; to substantiate; to establish; to sustain; as, the testimony is not sufficient to support the charges; the evidence will not support the statements or allegations. To urge such arguments, as though they were sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy. --J. Edwards. 8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to be able to support one's own cause. 9. To uphold by aid or countenance; to aid; to help; to back up; as, to support a friend or a party; to support the present administration. Wherefore, bold pleasant, Darest thou support a published traitor? --Shak. 10. A attend as an honorary assistant; as, a chairman supported by a vice chairman; O'Connell left the prison, supported by his two sons. Support arms (Mil.), a command in the manual of arms in responce to which the piece is held vertically at the shoulder, with the hammer resting on the left forearm, which is passed horizontally across the body in front; also, the position assumed in response to this command. Syn: To maintain; endure; verify; substantiate; countenance; patronize; help; back; second; succor; relieve; uphold; encourage; favor; nurture; nourish; cherish; shield; defend; protect; stay; assist; forward.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Support Sup*port", n. [F.] 1. The act, state, or operation of supporting, upholding, or sustaining. 2. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling, as a prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind. 3. That which maintains or preserves from being overcome, falling, yielding, sinking, giving way, or the like; subsistence; maintenance; assistance; re["e]nforcement; as, he gave his family a good support, the support of national credit; the assaulting column had the support of a battery. Points of support (Arch.), the horizontal area of the solids of a building, walls, piers, and the like, as compared with the open or vacant spaces. Right of support (Law), an easement or servitude by which the owner of a house has a right to rest his timber on the walls of his neighbor's house. --Kent. Syn: Stay; prop; maintenance; subsistence; assistance; favor; countenance; encouragement; patronage; aid; help; succor; nutriment; sustenance; food.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(supports, supporting, supported) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If you support someone or their ideas or aims, you agree with them, and perhaps help them because you want them to succeed. The vice president insisted that he supported the hard-working people of New York... The National Union of Mineworkers pressed the party to support a total ban on imported coal. = back ? oppose VERB: V n, V n • Support is also a noun. The prime minister gave his full support to the government's reforms... N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp 2. If you give support to someone during a difficult or unhappy time, you are kind to them and help them. It was hard to come to terms with her death after all the support she gave to me and the family... 3. Financial support is money provided to enable an organization to continue. This money is usually provided by the government. ...the government's proposal to cut agricultural support by only about 15%. = funding N-UNCOUNT: oft supp N 4. If you support someone, you provide them with money or the things that they need. I have children to support, money to be earned, and a home to be maintained... She sold everything she'd ever bought in order to support herself through art school. VERB: V n, V pron-refl 5. If a fact supports a statement or a theory, it helps to show that it is true or correct. The Freudian theory about daughters falling in love with their father has little evidence to support it. = substantiate VERB: V n • Support is also a noun. The two largest powers in any system must always be major rivals. History offers some support for this view. = evidence N-UNCOUNT 6. If something supports an object, it is underneath the object and holding it up. ...the thick wooden posts that supported the ceiling... = hold up VERB: V n 7. A support is a bar or other object that supports something. N-COUNT 8. If you support yourself, you prevent yourself from falling by holding onto something or by leaning on something. He supported himself by means of a nearby post. VERB: V pron-refl • Support is also a noun. Alice, very pale, was leaning against him as if for support. 9. If you support a sports team, you always want them to win and perhaps go regularly to their games. Tim, 17, supports Manchester United. VERB: V n 10. see also supporting

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Sustain, uphold, prop, brace, bear up, hold up, shore up. 2. Endure, bear, undergo, suffer, tolerate, put up with, go through. 3. Cherish, nourish, maintain, provide for, nurture. 4. Have, hold, keep up, maintain, sustain, preserve. 5. Perform, play, act, take the part of, sustain, assume, carry, represent. 6. Substantiate, confirm, make good, verify. 7. Assist, aid, help, second, patronize, abet, befriend, back, countenance, encourage, back up, succor, relieve, uphold, favor, shield, protect, defend. 8. Further, forward, advocate, vindicate, maintain, defend, stay, assist. 9. Accompany (as an assistant), attend, act as aid to. 10. Carry on, maintain. II. n. 1. Prop, stay, shore, supporter, brace, hold. 2. Base, basis, bed, foundation. 3. Sustenance, maintenance, subsistence, livelihood, living, keeping, sustentation. 4. Nutriment, sustenance, food, bread. 5. Aid, help, assistance, succor, favor, countenance, encouragement, patronage, comfort.

Moby Thesaurus

A-frame, Maecenas, OK, TLC, abettor, abide, abide with, accept, acceptance, accession, accommodate, accredit, acquiescence, act a part, act out, admirer, advance, advocate, affirm, affirmation, afford, afford hope, afford support, aficionado, agreement, agreement in principle, aid, aid and comfort, aliment, alimentation, alimony, allege in support, allotment, allowance, alpenstock, amen, angel, annuity, answer, anvil, apologist, applaud, approve, argue for, arm, assent, assentation, assert, assist, assistance, assurance, assure, athletic supporter, attend to, attest, attestation, augur well, authenticate, authentication, authorize, autograph, auxiliaries, baby-sit, back, back rest, back up, backbone, backer, backing, backing up, backstop, backup, bandage, bandeau, bankroll, base, beam, bear, bear out, bear up, bear with, bearer, bearing out, beef up, benefit, bid fair, bide, bit player, block, blow to, bolster, bolster up, bolstering, boost, bounty, bra, brace, brace up, bracer, bracket, brassiere, brave, bread, brook, buck up, buff, buoy up, buttress, buttressing, cane, capitalization, capitalize, care, care for, carrier, carry, case harden, certification, certify, cervix, champion, chaperon, cheer, cherish, circumstantiate, circumstantiation, clothe, column, comfort, commend, compliance, concurrence, condolence, confirm, confirmation, consent, conservancy, conservation, conservationism, conserve, consolation, contend for, contribute, copyright, corroborate, corroboration, corroboratory evidence, corset, cosign, countenance, counter, countersign, cradle, create a role, crook, crosstree, crutch, cry up, cue rest, cushion, daily bread, defend, defender, deficit financing, dependence, depict, depletion allowance, document, documentation, dole, donate, ease, easel, easement, economic support, elect, embolden, enact, encourage, encouragement, encourager, endorse, endorser, endow, endowment, endure, environmental conservation, espouse, exponent, extra, face, fan, favor, favorer, fellowship, figurant, figurante, fill, fill up, finance, finances, financial assistance, financial backing, financial support, financing, find, forest conservation, forest management, fortification, fortify, fortifying, forward, foster, foundation, foundation garment, frame, friend at court, fulcrum, fund, funding, furnish, general agreement, gird, girdle, give, give hope, give permission, give support, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur, give thumbs up, go, go treat, good offices, grant, grant-in-aid, grubstake, guaranteed annual income, guard, guy, guywire, hand, hang in, hang in there, hang tough, harden, have good prospects, hearten, hearty assent, heel, help, hob, hod, hold, hold out hope, hold out promise, hold up, hype, impersonate, initial, inspire, inspire hope, inspirit, invest, invigorate, jack, jock, jockstrap, justify hope, keep, keep afloat, keep alive, keep intact, keep inviolate, keep safe, keep up, keep watch over, keeping, lap, lend support, lift, livelihood, living, look after, look out for, look to, lover, lump, lump it, mainstay, maintain, maintainer, maintenance, make a plea, make available, make fair promise, make provision for, manna, mast, matronize, maulstick, meat, mind, minister to, ministration, ministry, mother, mothering, music stand, mute, neck, nerve, nominate, not destroy, not endanger, not expend, not use up, not waste, notarize, nourishment, nurse, nurture, nutriment, office, offices, old-age insurance, pabulum, pap, paranymph, partisan, pass, pass on, pass upon, patent, patron, patronization, patronize, pay for, pay the bill, pay the bills, paying the bills, pecuniary aid, pension, pension off, permit, persevere, personate, pillar, pillow, play a part, play a role, play opposite, plead for, plug, portray, prepare, present, preserval, preservation, preserve, price support, probate, promise, promote, promoter, proof, prop, prop up, protagonist, protect, protection, protege, prove, provide, provide for, proving, proving out, provision, provision of capital, public assistance, public welfare, puff, pull, put up with, raise expectations, raise hope, raker, ratification, ratify, ratline, reassurance, reassure, rebut, recommend, recruit, refection, refinance, refresh, refreshment, refute, register, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcements, reinforcer, reinvigorate, reliance, relief, remedy, replenish, reply, represent, rescue, reserve forces, reserves, respond, rest, resting place, restrengthen, retirement benefits, rib, ride herd on, rigging, riposte, rubber stamp, safekeeping, salt, salvage, salvation, sanction, save, saving, say amen to, say in defense, scholarship, scissors truss, seal, second, seconder, sectary, see after, see to, service, set up, shepherd, shoe, shore, shore up, shoring, shoulder, shred of comfort, shroud, side with, sider, sign, sign and seal, skid, soil conservation, solace, solacement, sole, spare, spare the price, speak for, speak highly of, speak up for, speak warmly of, speak well of, spear-carrier, spine, splint, sponsor, sponsorship, sprit, staff, stake, stalwart, stand, stand by, stand drinks, stand for, stand to, stand treat, stand up for, stand-in, standby, standing rigging, standing treat, stave, stay, steel, stick, stick up for, stiffen, stiffener, stilts, stipend, stirrup, stock, stomach, store, stream conservation, strengthen, strengthener, strengthening, strut, submit to, subscribe to, subsidization, subsidize, subsidy, subsistence, substantiate, substantiation, substitute, substructure, subvention, subventionize, succor, suffer, supe, super, supernumerary, supply, supporter, supporting actor, supporting cast, supporting evidence, sustain, sustain a part, sustainer, sustainment, sustenance, sustentation, swallow, swear and affirm, swear to, sympathizer, sympathy, take, take a part, take care of, take charge of, tax benefit, temper, tend, tender loving care, therapy, tolerate, toughen, tout, treat, treat to, tripod, trivet, truss, underbrace, undergird, undergirding, undergo, underlie, underpin, underpinning, underset, undersign, understudy, underwrite, upbear, uphold, upholder, upkeep, urge reasons for, validate, validation, verification, verify, visa, vise, votary, vote, vouch for, walk-on, walking gentleman, walking stick, warm assent, warrant, watch, watch out for, watch over, water conservation, weather, welcome, welfare, welfare aid, welfare payments, well afford, well-wisher, wetlands conservation, wildlife conservation, withstand, yield