easy
Friends can support one another by listening and helping.
What does Support mean?
Support means to help, back, provide for, or hold up; support can also name that help or structure.
Dictionary definition
To support means to help or encourage, agree with or advocate for, provide money or necessities, hold weight, keep something going, or give evidence that makes a claim more believable. As a noun, support is that help, approval, evidence, or a structure that holds something up.
Example sentences
Support in a sentence
medium
Wooden posts support the porch roof.
hard
The graph supports our conclusion, while the grant provides financial support for the project.
Writing practice
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Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Support
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
Which set shows three meanings of support?
Support can involve help or encouragement, physical holding, and evidence.
Practice 2
What does the data support our conclusion mean?
In reasoning and science, support means provide evidence for a claim or conclusion.
Practice 3
Which contrast fits support a proposal?
When support means approve of or advocate for a proposal, oppose is a direct contrast.
Practice complete
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Pronunciation coach
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Support
Voice settings
Sounds like
suh · port · strongest beat: port
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordSupport.
Partverb, noun.
MeaningSupport means to help, back, provide for, or hold up; support can also name that help or structure.
ExampleExample: Friends can support one another by listening and helping.
Word breakdown
2 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- suh · port
- Strongest beat
- port
- Ending
- port
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on port.
Your turn
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Synonyms
Words like Support
helpA broad substitute for practical or emotional assistance, but not for every evidence, approval, or physical-holding sense.
backUse when supporting means approving, defending, or helping a person, plan, or cause.
hold upUse when a structure carries weight or keeps something from falling.
substantiateA formal substitute when evidence supports a statement or claim.
Antonyms
Opposite words
Synonym practice
Want to practice support synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The coach tried to encourage the team," then compare close word choices. Practice support synonyms.
Word family
Support word family
Base word
support
verb
supports
The present-tense form used with he, she, or it, or more than one physical support.
verb
supported
The past-tense and past-participle form.
adjective
supporting
Helping, secondary, or providing support; also the continuing verb form.
noun
supporter
A person who helps, approves of, or backs someone or something.
adjective
supportive
Giving help, encouragement, or approval.
adjective
supportable
Able to be supported, maintained, or defended with reasons or evidence.
Related words
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Student support
Understand Support
Hint for students
Ask what support does in the sentence: helps a person, backs an idea, provides necessities, holds weight, keeps something going, or strengthens a claim with evidence.
Common mix-up
Support is broader than encourage. A beam can support weight, money can support a family, and evidence can support a conclusion. Oppose is an antonym only for the approval or advocacy sense.
Try it in class or at home
Students sort support sentences into help, approval, provision, physical holding, sustaining, and evidence, then replace support with a sense-specific phrase where possible.
Teacher prompt
Compare emotional support, support for an idea, financial support, a support beam, life-supporting conditions, and evidence that supports a claim. Ask what is being kept strong in each use.
Learning activities
Practice Support and explore more word games
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Sentence Builder
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Synonym Search
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