support
support
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "support" is /səˈpɔːrt/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
suh-: /sə/
/s/ as in "sit"
/ə/ as in "about" (This is the schwa sound, a very common unstressed vowel.)
POHRT: /ˈpɔːrt/
/ˈ/ indicates the primary stress is on this syllable.
/p/ as in "pit"
/ɔː/ as in "thought" (This is a long "o" sound.)
/r/ as in "run"
/t/ as in "top"
Word Form Variations
support (noun - singular): This is the base form, referring to the act of supporting, a prop, or financial assistance. Example: I need support from my family.
supports (noun - plural): This refers to multiple instances of support, or multiple props. Example: The bridge has strong supports.
support (verb - present tense): This is the action of holding up, helping, or maintaining. Example: I support your decision.
supports (verb - present tense, third-person singular): Used with he, she, or it. Example: He supports his local team.
supporting (verb - present participle/gerund): This can be part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., She is supporting him) or act as a noun (gerund) (e.g., Supporting local businesses is important).
supported (verb - past tense/past participle): This indicates the action of supporting has already happened. Example: The platform was supported by pillars. It's also used in perfect tenses (e.g. I have supported her for years.)
supporter (noun - singular): A person who supports something or someone. Example: She is a loyal supporter of the team.
supporters (noun - plural): Multiple people who support something or someone. Example: The team has many supporters.
supportive (adjective): Describing someone or something that provides support. Example: He is a very supportive friend.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition 1: The act of bearing the weight of something; the provision of necessary items or emotional sustenance.
Synonyms: backing, assistance, aid, encouragement, maintenance, foundation, prop, brace, reinforcement
Antonyms: opposition, resistance, hindrance, obstruction, undermining, weakening
Definition 2: A person or thing that provides help or assistance.
Synonyms: advocate, champion, patron, benefactor, mainstay, pillar, follower, fan
Antonyms: opponent, critic, adversary, detractor
Verb:
Definition 1: To bear the weight of something; to hold up or maintain.
Synonyms: uphold, sustain, carry, bolster, reinforce, prop up, brace, strengthen
Antonyms: undermine, weaken, destabilize, collapse, abandon
Definition 2: To provide assistance or encouragement to; to advocate for.
Synonyms: back, endorse, champion, promote, aid, assist, encourage, stand by
Antonyms: oppose, resist, hinder, obstruct, discourage, betray
Adjective:
Definition: Providing help, encouragement, or assistance.
Synonyms: helpful, encouraging, assistive, loyal, faithful, reliable, dependable, nurturing
Antonyms: unsupportive, discouraging, hindering, unreliable, disloyal, critical
Adverb:
There isn't a commonly used adverb form of "support" in standard English. You might use phrases like "supportively" (which is derived from the adjective) or "in support of."
Examples of Use
Noun:
Book: "She found immense support in her friends during the difficult time." (This is a general example; you'd find countless examples in literature.)
Newspaper: "The local community is rallying to provide support for the family who lost their home in the fire." (News articles frequently use "support" in the context of aid and assistance.)
Online Publication: "Click here to learn more about our support services for small businesses." (Many websites use "support" to describe their customer service or help resources.)
General Public Discourse: "I appreciate your support on this issue." (This is a common phrase used in everyday conversations.)
Entertainment (Video Game): "The support character healed the injured players." (Many games have "support" roles that assist other players.)
Verb:
Book: "He supported the struggling artist by buying her paintings." (Again, a general example; literature is full of them.)
Newspaper: "The government announced it will support new initiatives to combat climate change." (News often reports on which organizations or policies are being supported.)
Online Publication: "Our platform supports multiple file formats." (Websites often use "support" to describe the features they offer.)
General Public Discourse: "I support your right to choose." (This is a common way to express agreement with a cause or opinion.)
Entertainment (Film): "The movie featured a strong supporting cast." (While 'supporting' is related, this example showcases how the verb form influences related terms.)
Adjective:
Online Publication: "We offer a supportive learning environment for all students." (Educational websites and platforms often use "supportive" to describe their approach.)
General Public Discourse: "It's important to have supportive friends and family." (This is a common sentiment expressed in everyday life.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Support
"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher — support is sacred." — Oprah Winfrey
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Support is the secret." — Helen Keller
"We can't help everyone, but everyone can support someone." — Ronald Reagan
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service and support of others." — Mahatma Gandhi
"It is not weakness to ask for help. It is a sign of strength to seek support." — Barack Obama (paraphrased from public remarks)
"A friend is someone who gives you total support without judgment." — Jim Morrison
"Power isn't control at all — power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn't someone who forces others to make them stronger; a leader is someone willing to give their strength to others so that they may have the strength to stand on their own. That’s support." — Beth Revis
"We live in a society where mutual support should be a right, not a luxury." — Noam Chomsky (adapted from political essays)
"Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back — support is everything." — Unknown (popular feminist quote)
"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else — and support their rise like it’s your own." — Booker T. Washington (paraphrased)
Etymology
The word "support" comes to us from Latin, specifically the word supportare. Think of it like this:
Sub means "under" or "below."
Portare means "to carry."
So, supportare literally means "to carry from below" or "to bear up." Imagine holding something up from underneath – that's the core idea.
This Latin word made its way into Old French as supporter, and then finally into English as "support" around the 14th century.
The first known uses of "support" in English were indeed about physically holding something up, like a pillar supporting a roof. Over time, the meaning broadened to include the more abstract ideas of providing help, encouragement, or financial assistance, which we use today. So, while the word originally had a very physical meaning, it gradually expanded to encompass emotional and other forms of non-physical "carrying" or "holding up."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Support
Phrases:
in support of: This is a very common phrase meaning "agreeing with" or "advocating for." Example: The crowd cheered in support of the team.
with the support of: This indicates backing or assistance from someone or something. Example: The project was completed with the support of local businesses.
a pillar of support: This phrase describes someone who is a strong and reliable source of help. Example: My grandmother has been a pillar of support for our family.
to lend support: To offer help or assistance. Example: I'm happy to lend my support to your cause.
to offer support: Similar to "lend support," this means to make help available. Example: The organization offers support to victims of domestic violence.
to garner support: To gain or attract support from others. Example: The candidate is working hard to garner support for her campaign.
support system: This refers to a network of people who provide help and encouragement. Example: Having a strong support system is crucial for mental health.
moral support: Emotional support, encouragement, and belief in someone. Example: I went to the audition to give her moral support.
Idioms (Less Common or Adapted):
Support the troops: This is a well-known slogan expressing patriotism and backing for military personnel, functioning similarly to an idiom.
Lean on/against (for support): While not using "support" directly, the idioms "lean on" or "lean against" express the concept of support. Example: When I felt overwhelmed, I learned to lean on my friends for support.
Stand by/behind (in support of): Similar to "lean on," these idioms convey backing and loyalty. Example: I will stand by you no matter what.
Give someone a leg up (instead of "support"): This idiom means to help someone advance or succeed, which is a form of support. Example: Mentoring can give someone a leg up in their career.
Why fewer common idioms with "support"?
"Support" is a relatively concrete word. While its meaning can be extended to abstract concepts, it often retains a sense of something solid and reliable. Idioms tend to be more figurative and playful with language, and "support" doesn't readily lend itself to that kind of metaphorical twisting. The concept of support is frequently expressed in idioms, but often using synonyms or related words like "back," "stand by," "help," "aid," "bolster," etc.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of support from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
