I. sup ‧ port 1 S1 W2 /səˈpɔːt $ -ɔːrt/ BrE AmE 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.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to agree with and help somebody/something
▪ 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.
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Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the trial.
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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.
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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.
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I really believe in this initiative, but it was hard to find business people who were willing to get behind it.
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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.
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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.
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The jury often side with the defendant in these situations.
■ to stop something from falling
▪ support to hold the weight of something and stop it from falling:
The branch was too weak to support his weight.
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The ceiling was supported by huge stone columns.
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Her body was so weak that she had to be supported by two nurses.
▪ hold up to stop something from falling:
These poles hold up the outer part of the tent.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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Any large mirrors should have additional support to take their weight.
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Make sure you choose a pole that will take the weight of your curtains.
II. support 2 S1 W1 BrE AmE 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 ↑ moral 1 (3)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ 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.
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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.
■ adjectives
▪ 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.
• • •
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.
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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.
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The project received financial assistance from the government.
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Thank you very much for your assistance, sir.
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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.
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The US spends billions of dollars on aid to developing countries.
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Another driver stopped and came to his aid.
▪ support help and encouragement:
Thanks to everyone who gave us their support.
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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
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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.