From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsupportsup‧port1 /səˈpɔːt $ -ɔːrt/ ●●● S2 W1 verb [transitive] 1 agree and helpSUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 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 somebodyHELP 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 livePAY FOR 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 somethingPAY FOR 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 upSUPPORT/HOLD 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 somethingPROVE 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 EnglishSUPPORT A TEAM OR PLAYER 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 landTA 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 life11 → support a habitTHESAURUSto agree with and help somebody/somethingsupport to say that you agree with a person or idea, and usually help them because you want them to succeedWe will support your decision.Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the trial.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 groupsThe £100 million scheme is backed by the British government.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 ideaAgriculture 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 peopleThe England fans really got behind the team. I really believe in this initiative, but it was hard to find business people who were willing to get behind it.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 attackedYou were the only person who stood up for me at the meeting.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 unfairI felt she was siding with her mother rather than standing up for me.The jury often side with the defendant in these situations.to stop something from fallingsupport to hold the weight of something and stop it from fallingThe branch was too weak to support his weight.The ceiling was supported by huge stone columns.Her body was so weak that she had to be supported by two nurses.hold up to stop something from fallingThese poles hold up the outer part of the tent.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 itThe 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 etcThe bridge could only carry up to two cars at a time.The lift can carry up to 12 people.hold to be strong enough to support the weight of someone or somethingAre you sure the branch will hold both of us?She prayed that the roof would hold her weight as she crawled along it.bear literary or technical to hold the weight of somethingThe truck did not look strong enough to bear the weight of all those people.a load-bearing walltake somebody's/something's weight to be strong enough to support the weight of someone or somethingHis damaged leg would not take his weight.Any large mirrors should have additional support to take their weight.Make sure you choose a pole that will take the weight of your curtains. → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
support• He has a wife and two children to support.• Sitting at a table in the coffee shop, her chin supported by her hands, she was deep in thought.• The ceiling was supported by huge stone columns.• Plans for a new school were strongly supported by local residents.• The changes in the tax code are supported by the Democratic party.• Her body was so weak that she had to be supported by two nurses.• Public opinion in America supported Gandhi in his struggle for an independent India.• She is my daughter, and I will love and support her no matter what happens.• If she can't support herself, how's she going to support a child?• For twenty-five years he painstakingly amassed evidence to support his hypothesis.• The environment ministry, to which it is ultimately responsible, supports it to the tune of almost 5m francs.• I am very grateful to members of the faculty who have supported me in so many ways.• My friends and family have all supported me through the divorce.• My parents didn't have to support me when I was at college because I received a grant.• Many elderly people support Milosevic because they are scared.• The Fed chairman actually supports Mr Neal's bill.• During the renovations, a temporary wall will support the ceiling.• We supported the demands for a thorough and credible investigation by independent and impartial experts.• I have always supported the Democrats.• I always support the Girl Scouts by buying a few boxes of cookies.• She wrote a newspaper article supporting the idea of a minimum wage for workers.• Employers support the training program by offering places for young people.• Together they shoot up, play soccer, get into barroom brawls, mug tourists and steal to support their habits.• A lot of people can barely earn enough to support themselves, let alone their families.• Do you have any evidence to support these claims?• Psychological theories support two main forms of gender bias.support somebody in (doing) something• In the north, the party can count on fairly widespread support.• Some see state support, in all its guises, as a bonus, others as an intrusion.• Successive Secretaries acknowledge the outstanding support she provided in that role.• A multi-dimensional approach has the potential to discover and support creative processes in the local community.• They are losing white support, particularly in the South where it is increasingly a black party.• If you are new, decide which senior colleagues would support you in your work.have ... to support• How many specific performance and change efforts involving how many people do you have the capacity to support?• I have a daughter to support.• Where do we have sufficient heat to support a biomass?• This shows how crucial it is to have funds available to support action when required from our Campaign Fund.• After that, the fund will have to support itself.• They have discretionary power to support students in further or higher education, including those who study part time.• More schools in the area have agreed to support the Hamper Appeal.• It will need to have a ledge to support the reading material and strong clamps to hold pages in place are useful. support ... weight• To top this unprepossessing appearance was a thin, scrawny neck which seemed only just to support the weight of his head.• This is because, during sleep, our spine no longer needs to support the weight of our body.• Similarly locals can not normally support the weight of regulation carried by the larger trading firms.• Although it still contains air, it can no longer support the weight of the car.• The liquid helps to support the weight of the compass card, and also dampens oscillation.• The floors themselves were strong enough to support the weight of the materials used to fill in the gaps.• The main structural consideration with any door or window is supporting the weight of the structure above.• What you need is a simple but effective structure or framework, strong enough to support the weight of your answer.team ... support• Do come along and give our two teams your support.• This is an all-star team that commands support and respect.• Work is still going on to raise team support for Peter, and he hopes to be making more visits to churches.• The women would love to have her in the team, but support her stand.• The rest of the team need to support the individual staff member who has the main therapeutic role.• They were large, costly, rather unreliable and required a dedicated data processing team to support them.• New metaphors must move beyond individual or team support to consider support for organizations and, ultimately, communities.• Once the flight arrived in Florida stewards and stewardesses joined the team of support workers to look after the children.supportsupport2 ●●● S2 W1 noun 1 approval [uncountable]SUPPORT A PERSON, GROUP, OR PLAN 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]HELP 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 somebody’s support With your support, we can help these youngsters.4 holding something up [countable, uncountable]SUPPORT/HOLD UP something that presses on something else to hold it up or in position The roof may need extra support. the wooden supports of the bridgefor support She grabbed at his shoulders for support.5 proof [uncountable] facts that show that an idea or statement is correctsupport 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 team7 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 supportair/ground support (=help or protection that comes from people in aircraft or people on the ground)9 for part of body [countable]MD something that you wear to hold a weak or damaged part of your body in the right placeback/neck/knee etc support → child support, income support, life support system, → moral support at moral1(3)COLLOCATIONSverbshave supportThe 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.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 supportThe plan drew wide support from parents.win/gain/attract supportTry 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 somebody’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.adjectivespublic/popular supportThere seemed to be no popular support for war.widespread/wide/general supportThere is widespread support for the Government’s proposal.strong supportA survey found strong support for the project among hospital staff.massive supportWe have massive public support.somebody’s full supportThat view deserves the full support of all farmers.whole-hearted/enthusiastic supportI 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. Examples from the Corpus
support• supports for the bridge• This sofa has good back support.• The bridge fell down because it didn't have enough support.• Private companies should not rely on financial support form the government.• He was grateful for his friends' support during his divorce.• Carter had seen his support dwindling in the southern states.• Our two company lawyers provide all the legal support we need.• Higher education for the deaf receives the same lukewarm support.• The paper support for this is a flimsy piece of plastic, and a wire loop.• This dependence upon parental support, though necessary if schools are to survive, is socially divisive.• In the past they say they've suffered prejudice and poor support.• At the same time, Mrs Aquino is mobilising popular support for her beleaguered government.• It is very important to have the greatest possible support around the expansion slot area.• The party's support has always been in the big cities.• In the light of that, the next step will be for the Government to identify proposals that will command the support of the House.• Day-care provision also lacked the support of women trade unionists.• I would not have been able to finish writing the book without the support of my husband and family.• I couldn't have finished my degree without the support of my family.• Thanks for all your support - it's been a hard year.• I'd like to thank you all for your support in the upcoming election.support for• There appears to be a lot of support for independence in the territory.financial support• This survey has been unusually successful in attracting financial support from a very wide range of sources.• Jerry Lewis, left the title untouched but drained financial support.• For information on treatment or how to give financial support.• Ed Schafer has received more than 95 percent of its financial support from North Dakotans.• The major problem of public broadcasting so far has not been too much government meddling but too little financial support.• A further example is the transfer of responsibility for those who need financial support.• The GI bill provided financial support for soldiers who wanted to get a college education.• Normally this financial support passes from older to younger generations in families in a one-way flow.• At issue in the Gingrich case is a college course he taught from 1993-95 with financial support from a nonprofit foundation.for support• She moved towards Andrew, seeking his arm for support.• He's able to walk around on his own now, although he has to use a cane for support.• As he fell over he grabbed at the table for support.technical support• Verio provides around-the-clock network monitoring and technical support with all promotional packages.• Both are replacing minicomputer-based systems with Clarify's ClearSupport technical support management system, shipping this month.• Compaq Computer Corp. enjoys one of the best reputations for technical support in the computer business.• Ideally, you should also plump for a company that offers a free technical support hotline.• Unlike many other unmetered deals, the price also includes unlimited freephone technical support.• Most Internet access providers offer some kind of technical support for users who need help learning how to telnet.• This would allow dermatologists to concentrate resources on patients who need the technical support available in hospitals.• Some companies even put on-line the same information used by their technical support staffs.support band• Red Rocks stadium throbs to the sound of the first support band.• My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State asked today whether it supported banding but received no answer.• Most often the support band are terrible, but they could have been great and they could have been you.• I seem to remember the support band was Eugenius, not Moonshake.• This was when somebody opened the door to the inner sanctum where the support band was playing.air/ground support• First he launches an invasion without adequate air support, then he makes the movement pay for it.• B-52s did not fly in close ground support.• I also learned that we had priority for air support for the duration.• Often no artillery or air support, even if we are overrun.• The aircraft carrier Nimitz will provide air support.• The entire com-pany was flown out early one morning, with air support overhead.back/neck/knee etc support• In the carrying position your baby has the benefit of a padded head and neck support.• They advise you to ensure you have a good back support when you come and rest after 26.2 miles.• Where you have a fairly long shelf, it is wise to add a horizontal back support.• She estimates he owes her roughly $ 6,000 in back support.• This time we had the welcome addition of a sheepskin backrest, an inflatable neck support and a selection of surgical collars.• Can you win back support in this area.From Longman Business Dictionarysupportsup‧port1 /səˈpɔːt-ɔːrt/ verb [transitive]1to provide enough money for something to begin or continueCommunity funds will be available to support the plan.2to show you agree with a person or group of people, or their ideas, plans etc10 countries indicated they would support a suspension of production quotas.Most lawmakersstrongly support governmentalpolicy.Sony issued a statement supporting the chief executive.3to help a system continue to work properlyThe company will provide equipment tosupport the complex electronicssystems.A Group of Seven move to support the dollar had been disappointing.4to show or prove that something is true or correctWe’ve got a good, solid defense case supported by clinical research.Many economists believe the economic recovery will be slow, and yesterday’sdata supported that view.→ See Verb tablesupportsupport2 noun [uncountable]1money or other help given to someone or somethingThe young entrepreneur had approached the bank several times forfinancial support.Developing countries will requiretechnical support.2approval and encouragement for a person or group of people, or their ideas, plans etcThe striking workers have key support from their labor unions.The rate cut foundwidespread support within Japan.support for somethingShareholders believe there is adequatesupport for theproposal.in support of somethingMany financial services companies are lobbying in support of the new laws.Origin support1 (1300-1400) Old French supporter, from Latin supportare “to carry”, from sub- ( → SUB-) + portare “to carry” 