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, tosupport 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
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
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Examples
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Approximately one in every two (52%) adults say they would support increasing NASA’s budget from  one-sixth of one percent to one percent of the federal budget (14% strongly support and 38% support  this).
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Approximately one in every two (52%) adults say they would support increasing NASA’s budget from  one-sixth of one percent to one percent of the federal budget (14% strongly support and 38% support  this).
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Then one after another, amid rising enthusiasm; Ukrainean Social Democracy, support; Lithuanian Social Democracy, support; Populist Socialists, support; Polish Social Democracy, support; Polish Socialists supportbut would prefer a Socialist coalition; Lettish Social Democracy, support .
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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
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This is a smart move on his part to gain support from the people, and thats a good quality a President should have.
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Our file of articles in support is building rapidly.
Up Hill Down Dale « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009
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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
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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
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I just hope that this resolution weaves its way throughout the local Districts, and can gain support from the County.
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He also declared victory for the terrorists when he said "the war is lost" to gain support from the liberal traitors.
princeton101 commented on the word support
well, i like this site because it's easy to understand the word and example of the word in sentence.
February 29, 2012