support
Other forms: supported; supporting; supports
The verb support means to bear weight or load, or otherwise support. If you build a house with blocks, you can safely remove some of them, but if you remove one that is supporting the weight of the blocks above it, the whole structure can collapse. Timber!
If you agree with or approve of a cause, person, idea, or the like, you support it. If you support a certain charity, you may donate your time or money to the cause. The verb support also means to strengthen with new evidence; to corroborate. When politicians make an argument, they support it by providing "facts and figures." Your job is to figure out whether their evidence has been twisted to support their positions. Good luck.
Definitions of support
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the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening“he leaned against the wall for support”synonyms: supportingtypes:dangling, hanging, suspensionthe act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely)type of:activityany specific behavior
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any device that bears the weight of another thing“there was no place to attach supports for a shelf”types:arch supporta support for the arch of the footbackboarda board used to support the back of someone or somethingbalusterone of a number of closely spaced supports for a railingbara horizontal rod that serves as a support for gymnasts as they perform exercisesbearinga rotating support placed between moving parts to allow them to move easilybearing wallany wall supporting a floor or the roof of a buildingbedpostany of 4 vertical supports at the corners of a bedsteadbookenda support placed at the end of a row of books to keep them upright (on a shelf or table)bracea support that steadies or strengthens something elsebridgea wooden support that holds the strings upfoota support resembling a pedal extremityhandresta support for the handhangeranything from which something can be hungharnessa support consisting of an arrangement of straps for holding something to the body (especially one supporting a person suspended from a parachute)harpa pair of curved vertical supports for a lampshadeheadstockthe stationary support in a machine or power tool that supports and drives a revolving part (as a chuck or the spindle on a lathe)legone of the supports for a piece of furnitureperchsupport consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)piera support for two adjacent bridge spanspier(architecture) a vertical supporting structure (as a portion of wall between two doors or windows)pillow blocka cast-iron or steel block for supporting a journal or bearingresta support on which things can be putribsupport resembling the rib of an animalrockera curved support that permits the supported object to rock to and froseatany support where you can sit (especially the part of a chair or bench etc. on which you sit)shelfa support that consists of a horizontal surface for holding objectsradius, spoke, wheel spokesupport consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rimgunstock, stockthe handle of a handgun or the butt end of a rifle or shotgun or part of the support of a machine gun or artillery gunstructural membersupport that is a constituent part of any structure or buildingtailstocksupport consisting of the movable part of a lathe that slides along the bed in alignment with the headstock and is locked into position to support the free end of the workpieceundercarriageframework that serves as a support for the body of a vehicleyokesupport consisting of a wooden frame across the shoulders that enables a person to carry buckets hanging from each endbarrea horizontal rod that ballet dancers use as a support as they perform certain exercisesankle bracea brace worn to strengthen the anklearmresta support for the armbackbenchany of the seats occupied by backbenchers in the House of Commonsback bracea brace worn to support the backbackseata seat at the back of a vehicle (especially the seat at the back of an automobile)beamlong thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in constructionbiera stand to support a corpse or a coffin prior to burialboatswain's chair, bosun's chaira seat consisting of a board and a rope; used while working aloft or over the side of a shipbookshelfa shelf on which to keep booksbrass monkeya metal stand that formerly held cannon balls on sailing shipsbucket seata low single seat as in cars or planescantlethe back of a saddle seatcar seata seat in a carchaira particular seat in an orchestrachin resta rest on which a violinist can place the chinclothes hanger, coat hanger, dress hangera hanger that is shaped like a person's shoulders and used to hang garments oncockpitseat where the driver sits while driving a racing carconsolean ornamental scroll-shaped bracket (especially one used to support a wall fixture)crossbenchany of the seats in the House of Commons used by members who do not vote regularly with either the government or the Oppositioncruet-standa stand for cruets containing various condimentsdress racka rack used primarily to display dresses for sale in a storecapsule, ejection seat, ejector seata pilot's seat in an airplane that can be forcibly ejected in the case of an emergency; then the pilot descends by parachutefifth wheela steering bearing that enables the front axle of a horse-drawn wagon to rotatefront benchany of the front seats in the House of Commons that are reserved for ministers or former ministersheadresta rest for the headhoba shelf beside an open fire where something can be kept warmjournal bearingthe bearing of a journaljump seata folding seat in an automobileknee bracea brace worn to strengthen the kneeladder-backthe backrest of a chair that consists of two uprights with connecting slatslanding gearan undercarriage that supports the weight of the plane when it is on the groundmagazine racka rack for displaying magazineschimneypiece, mantel, mantelpiece, mantle, mantlepieceshelf that projects from wall above fireplacemodillion(architecture) one of a set of ornamental brackets under a corniceneck bracea brace worn to steady the neckovermantela shelf over a mantelpiecepilliona seat behind the rider of a horse or motorbike etc.pistol gripa handle (as of a gun or saw) shaped like the butt of a pistolplane seata seat on a commercial airlinerplatestructural member consisting of a horizontal beam that provides bearing and anchorageriserstructural member consisting of the vertical part of a stair or steproosta perch on which domestic fowl rest or sleeprumblea servant's seat (or luggage compartment) in the rear of a carriagerumble seata folding outside seat in the back of some early carssaddlea seat for the rider of a horse or camelsaddle seata chair seat that is slightly concave and sometimes has a thickened ridge in the centersconcea decorative wall bracket for holding candles or other sources of lightshelf bracketa bracket to support a shelfsillstructural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structureskega brace that extends from the rear of the keel to support the rudderpostsliding seatrower's seat that slides fore and aftspice racka rack for displaying containers filled with spicesstaddlea base or platform on which hay or corn is stackedstraphanger consisting of a loop of leather suspended from the ceiling of a bus or train; passengers hold onto itthrust bearinga bearing designed to take thrusts parallel to the axis of revolutiontoeholda small foothold used in climbingtreadstructural member consisting of the horizontal part of a stair or steptripoda three-legged rack used for supporttriveta stand, often with short feet, used under a hot dish on a tabletriveta three-legged metal stand for supporting a cooking vessel in a hearthtype of:devicean instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
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supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation“the statue stood on a marble support”types:abutmenta masonry support that touches and directly receives thrust or pressure of an arch or bridgearchitravethe lowest part of an entablature; rests immediately on the capitals of the columnsbasementthe ground floor facade or interior in Renaissance architecturebase, foot, foundation, fundament, groundwork, substructure, understructurelowest support of a structurepropa support placed beneath or against something to keep it from shaking or fallingbeda foundation of earth or rock supporting a road or railroad trackarc-boutant, flying buttressa buttress that stands apart from the main structure and connected to it by an archraft foundationa foundation (usually on soft ground) consisting of an extended layer of reinforced concretesoclea plain plinth that supports a walltype of:supporting structurea structure that serves to support something
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be the physical support of; carry the weight of“He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam”types:scaffoldprovide with a scaffold for supportblocksupport, secure, or raise with a blockcarrybear or be able to bear the weight, pressure,or responsibility ofchocksupport on chockspolesupport on polesbracketsupport with bracketsunderpinsupport from beneathtrusssupport structurallybracesupport by bracingbolsterprop up with a pillow or bolstertreadbrace (an archer's bow) by pressing the foot against the center
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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”types:maintenance, sustainment, sustenance, sustentation, upkeepthe act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistenceintegrated logistic supportthe pooling of specific resources by subscribing nations for the support of some joint operationinteragency support, interdepartmental supportprovision of logistic (or administrative) support by one or more of the military services to one or more departments or agencies of the United States governmentinter-service supportaction by one military service to provide logistic (or administrative) support to another military servicetype of:activityany specific behavior
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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, reinforcementtypes:close supportclose-in firing by one unit against an enemy engaged by another unittype of:
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the financial means whereby one lives“he applied to the state for support”synonyms: bread and butter, keep, livelihood, living, sustenancetypes:maintenancemeans of maintenance of a family or groupmeal ticketa source of income or livelihoodsubsistenceminimal (or marginal) resources for subsistingtype of:resourceavailable source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
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financial resources provided to make some project possible“the foundation provided support for the experiment”synonyms: backing, financial backing, financial support, fundingtype of:resourceavailable source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
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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”types:anchor, backbone, keystone, linchpin, lynchpin, mainstaya central cohesive source of support and stabilitylifelinesupport that enables people to survive or to continue doing something (often by providing an essential connection)type of:influencea cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do
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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”types:advocacy, protagonismactive support of an idea or cause etc.; especially the act of pleading or arguing for somethingsponsorshipthe act of sponsoring (either officially or financially)reassurancethe act of reassuring; restoring someone's confidenceecclesiasticismexcessive adherence to ecclesiastical forms and activitiesroyalismadherence or attachment to a monarchy or to the principle of monarchal governmenttraditionalismadherence to tradition (especially in cultural or religious matters)drumbeata vehement and vociferous advocacy of a causeurgingthe act of earnestly supporting or encouragingtype of:aid, assist, assistance, helpthe activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
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support materially or financially“The scholarship supported me when I was in college”types:fundfurnish money forsee throughsupport financially through a period of timegrubstakesupply with funds in return for a promised share of profitsbankrollprovide with sufficient funds; financecosponsorsponsor together with another sponsortype of:givetransfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody
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give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to“She supported him during the illness”synonyms: back uptypes:sponsorassume responsibility for or leadership ofbuy at, frequent, patronise, patronize, shop, shop at, sponsordo one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client ofundergirdlend moral support toempowergive someone confidence, strength, and self-determinationbenefacthelp as a benefactorhelp outbe of help, as in a particular situation of needsubservebe helpful or usefulavailbe of use to, be useful tobootstraphelp oneself, often through improvised meansspurincite or stimulatehelpcontribute to the furtherance ofcarrytake further or advancefeedsupport or promote
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be behind; approve of
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argue or speak in defense of“She supported the motion to strike”types:apologise, apologize, excuse, justify, rationalise, rationalizedefend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoningupholdstand up for; stick up for; of causes, principles, or idealspleadoffer as an excuse or plea
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be a regular customer or client ofsynonyms: keep going, patronage, patronise, patronize
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documentary validation
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establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts“The evidence supports the defendant”synonyms: affirm, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, sustaintypes:vouchgive supporting evidenceverifyconfirm the truth ofdemonstrate, establish, prove, shew, showestablish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experimentdocumentsupport or supply with referencesvalidateprove valid; show or confirm the validity of somethingascertain, assure, check, control, ensure, insure, see, see to itbe careful or certain to do something; make certain of somethingcheckverify by consulting a source or authorityprove oneselfshow one's ability or courageproveprove formally; demonstrate by a mathematical, formal proofsourcespecify the origin ofstultifyprove to be of unsound mind or demonstrate someone's incompetence
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support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm
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play a subordinate role to (another performer)
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a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical partssynonyms: accompaniment, backup, musical accompaniment
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adopt as a belief
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put up with something or somebody unpleasantsufferexperience (emotional) paintypes:bear upendure cheerfullytake lying downsuffer without protest; suffer or endure passivelytake a jokelisten to a joke at one's own expensesit outendure to the endpaybear (a cost or penalty), in recompense for some actiontype of:
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