26984 words

supported

10 definitions • 19 examples
1
past simple and past participle of
2
to agree with and give encouragement to someone or something because you want him, her, or it to succeed:

Examples:

My father supported the Labour Party all his life.
The majority of people in the town strongly support the plans to build a new school.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] We will always do our best to support our students to succeed.
3
If you support a sports team or a sports player, you want them to win, and might show it by going to watch them play:

Examples:

Which team do you support?
4
to help someone emotionally or in a practical way:

Examples:

Alcoholics Anonymous is a group which supports people who are trying to stop drinking too much alcohol.
My family has always supported me in whatever I've wanted to do.
5
to give a person the money they need in order to buy food and clothes and pay for somewhere to live:

Examples:

He has a wife and four children to support.
6
If you support an activity or a habit, you provide the money needed to pay for it:

Examples:

I don't know how they manage to support their expensive lifestyle.
Some drug addicts turn to crime in order to support their habit.
7
to provide the right conditions, such as enough food and water, for life:

Examples:

The land is so poor here that it cannot support any crops.
8
to hold something firmly or carry its weight, especially from below to stop it from falling:

Examples:

The church dome is supported by/on marble pillars.
When babies first learn to stand, they hold on to something to support themselves (= to stop themselves from falling).
My ankle is weak, so I always put a bandage on it to support it when I play tennis.
figurative The Bank of England has taken measures to support the pound (= to stop it from being reduced in value).
9
to help to show something to be true:

Examples:

You can't make a statement like that without any supporting documentation.
10
to accept something and allow it to happen:

Examples:

The headteacher told the boys that he would not support that kind of behaviour.

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