supported; supporting; supports
1
: to endure bravely or quietly : bear
2
a(1)
: to promote the interests or cause of
(2)
: to uphold or defend as valid or right : advocate
supports fair play
(3)
: to argue or vote for
supported the motion to lower taxes
c
: to provide with substantiation : corroborate
support an alibi
3
a
: to pay the costs of : maintain
support a family
b
: to provide a basis for the existence or subsistence of
the island could probably support three—
A. B. C. Whipple
A. B. C. Whipplesupport a habit
4
a
: to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for
b
: to maintain (a price) at a desired level by purchases or loans
also
: to maintain the price of by purchases or loans
5
: to keep from fainting, yielding, or losing courage : comfort
6
: to keep (something) going
1
a
: the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported
b
: assistance provided by a company to users of its products
customer support
2
: one that supports
—often used attributively
a support staff
3
: sufficient strength in a suit bid by one's partner in bridge to justify raising the suit
Examples of support in a Sentence
Verb
I completely support your decision to stay.
She no longer supports the war.
The senator says that he supports the proposed legislation.
Which presidential candidate do you support?
The study is supported by the American Medical Association.
The country's citizens were asked to support the war effort.
Her friends supported her by signing her petition.
The charity supports needy families.
Bombers were called in to support the ground troops.
The planet's atmosphere cannot support human life.
Noun
The team gets a lot of support from its fans.
I'd like to thank my parents for all of their love and support over the years.
He depended on his wife for emotional support.
He applied for financial support from the state.
the company's friendly support staff
Inspectors found that some of the bridge's supports were weak.
She used my arm as a support and limped to the chair.
These sneakers are designed to give your feet extra support.
Recent Examples on the Web
Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2025
Congress supported all of these measures and tried to boost the United States’ competitiveness through legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act, which poured federal money into strategically significant industries.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Justin has always been vocal about showing support for Toronto, and even did a jersey collaboration with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for support
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The plaintiffs argue the federal government is legally required to continue supporting SNAP, even amid the government shutdown.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2025
Congress supported all of these measures and tried to boost the United States’ competitiveness through legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act, which poured federal money into strategically significant industries.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
In March of this year, then-Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba took out an advertorial in the Washington Post to inform Americans of the situation and appeal for international support.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Justin has always been vocal about showing support for Toronto, and even did a jersey collaboration with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for support
Cite this Entry
“Support.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/support. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
support
1 of 2 verb
sup·port
sə-ˈpō(ə)rt 
-ˈpȯ(ə)rt
1
: to endure bravely or quietly : bear
2
a
: to promote the interests or cause of
b
: to uphold or defend as true or right : advocate
supports fair play
c
: to argue or vote for
support a candidate
d
: assist entry 1, help
bombers supported the ground troops
e
: to provide evidence for : verify
they cannot support the claim
3
: to pay the costs of : maintain
supports a large family
4
a
: to hold up or in position or serve as a foundation or prop for
posts support the porch roof
b
: to keep up the price of (as milk or wheat) by buying large amounts to store at a certain price
5
: to keep something going : sustain
not enough air to support life
support
2 of 2 noun1
a
: the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported
b
: assistance provided by a company to users of its products
customer support
2
: someone or something that supports
Medical Definition
support
1 of 2 transitive verb
sup·port
sə-ˈpō(ə)rt, -ˈpȯ(ə)rt
1
: to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for
2
: to maintain in condition, action, or existence
support respiration
support life
support
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported
respiratory support
2
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