support meaning and definition

SUPPORT noun

Definition of support (noun)

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"
   • synonyms: reenforcement, reinforcement
5. documentary validation
   • "his documentation of the results was excellent"; "the strongest support for this view is the work of Jones"
   • synonyms: documentation
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"
   • synonyms: bread and butter, keep, livelihood, living, 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"
   • synonyms: supporting
9. a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts
   • synonyms: accompaniment, backup, musical accompaniment
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"
    • synonyms: backing, financial backing, financial support, funding

SUPPORT verb

Definition of support (verb)

1. give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to
   • "She supported him during the illness"; "Her children always backed her up"
   • synonyms: 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"
   • synonyms: back, endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for
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?"
   • synonyms: hold, hold up, sustain
5. establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
   • "his story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the defendant"
   • synonyms: affirm, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, sustain
   • antonym: contradict
6. adopt as a belief
   • "I subscribe to your view on abortion"
   • synonyms: subscribe
7. support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm
   • "The stories and claims were born out by the evidence"
   • synonyms: bear out, corroborate, underpin
8. argue or speak in defense of
   • "She supported the motion to strike"
   • synonyms: defend, 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"
    • synonyms: keep going, patronage, patronise, patronize
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"
    • synonyms: abide, bear, brook, digest, endure, put up, stand, stick out, stomach, suffer, tolerate