support

/sə'pɔ:t/
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support

The foundation provided support for the experiment.

Definition
  1. Noun:

    • Financial or material assistance: The provision of money, resources, or necessities to enable something to exist or function.
    • A structure that bears weight: A device, object, or part that holds something up or provides a foundation.
    • Encouragement or backing: Immaterial assistance such as approval, agreement, or loyalty given to a person, cause, or idea.
    • The act of sustaining: The action of bearing the weight of something or providing strength.
    • A musical accompaniment: A vocal or instrumental part that provides background for a main melody.
    • Verification: Evidence or documentation that validates a claim or argument.
    • Military reinforcement: An operation to strengthen a military force.
  2. Verb:

    • To bear the weight of; hold up: To serve as a foundation or structure that prevents something from falling.
    • To provide assistance or backing: To give financial, material, moral, or psychological help.
    • To endure or tolerate: To put up with something unpleasant.
    • To substantiate or corroborate: To provide evidence or arguments that confirm the truth or validity of something.
    • To be a regular customer or patron of: To frequent a business or service.
    • To advocate for; defend: To speak or argue in favor of a person, idea, or action.
    • To play a secondary role to: In performing arts, to act in a subordinate role that enhances another performer.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:

    • The charity provides financial support to families in need.
    • The bridge collapsed because its main support failed.
    • The policy has widespread public support.
    • She leaned on her friend for emotional support during the crisis.
  • Verb:

    • These columns support the entire roof.
    • He supports his children through college.
    • I cannot support his rude behavior any longer.
    • The data supports the scientist's hypothesis.
    • We support our local bookstore by shopping there.
    • She supported her colleague's proposal during the meeting.
    • The veteran actor supported the young lead brilliantly.
Advanced Usage
  • "in support of": For the purpose of helping, defending, or approving of something.
    • He spoke in support of the new environmental regulations.
  • "moral support": Encouragement and sympathy, rather than physical or financial help.
    • My friends came to the competition just to give me moral support.
  • "to lend support to": To add credibility or backing to an idea or argument.
    • The recent discovery lends support to the theory.
Variants and Related Words
  • Supporter (n): A person who approves of and encourages someone or something.
    • He is a strong supporter of the arts.
  • Supportive (adj): Providing encouragement or emotional help.
    • She has a very supportive family.
  • Supportable (adj): Able to be endured or tolerated.
    • The pain was barely supportable.
  • Unsupported (adj): Not supported; lacking proof or corroboration.
    • His claims were unsupported by any evidence.
Synonyms
  • Noun: Backing, aid, assistance, foundation, pillar, prop, sustenance.
  • Verb: Sustain, uphold, back, endorse, finance, fund, bear, tolerate, corroborate.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Support with: To provide a specific type of help.
    • Can you support your argument with more facts?
  • Back up: To support someone's statement or claim; to provide assistance.
    • Her theory is backed up by solid research. (Note: 'Back up' is a phrasal verb with a meaning similar to 'support'.)
Related Idioms
  • To support a habit: To financially enable an expensive, often addictive, activity.
    • He works two jobs to support his gambling habit.
  • A tower of strength/support: Someone who provides very strong and reliable support, especially in difficult times.
    • My sister was a tower of strength after the accident.
support

The foundation provided support for the experiment.

Noun
  1. financial resources provided to make some project possible
    • the foundation provided support for the experiment
  2. any device that bears the weight of another thing
    • there was no place to attach supports for a shelf
  3. a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts
  4. the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening
    • he leaned against the wall for support
  5. supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation
    • the statue stood on a marble support
  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
  7. documentary validation
    • his documentation of the results was excellent
    • the strongest support for this view is the work of Jones
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
Verb
  1. 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
  2. be a regular customer or client of
    • We patronize this store
    • Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could
  3. play a subordinate role to (another performer)
    • Olivier supported Gielgud beautifully in the second act
  4. argue or speak in defense of
    • She supported the motion to strike
  5. support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm
    • The stories and claims were born out by the evidence
  6. adopt as a belief
    • I subscribe to your view on abortion
  7. establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
    • his story confirmed my doubts
    • The evidence supports the defendant
  8. 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?
  9. be behind; approve of
    • He plumped for the Labor Party
    • I backed Kennedy in 1960
  10. support materially or financially
    • he does not support his natural children
    • The scholarship supported me when I was in college
  11. give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to
    • She supported him during the illness
    • Her children always backed her up