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'

any device that bears the weight of another thing; there was no place to attach supports for a shelf'

financial resources provided to make some project possible; the foundation provided support for the experiment

[ Syn: financial support , funding , backing , financial backing ]

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'

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'

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

[ Syn: reinforcement , reenforcement ]

documentary validation; his documentation of the results was excellent; the strongest support for this view is the work of Jones

[ Syn: documentation ]

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

[ Syn: keep , livelihood , living , bread and butter , sustenance ]

supporting structure that holds up or provides a foundation; the statue stood on a marble support'

the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening; he leaned against the wall for support

[ Syn: supporting ]

a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts

[ Syn: accompaniment , musical accompaniment , backup ]

give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to; She supported him during the illness; Her children always backed her up

[ Syn: back up ]

be a regular customer or client of; We patronize this store; Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could

[ Syn: patronize , patronise , patronage , keep going ]

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

[ Syn: digest , endure , stick out , stomach , bear , stand , tolerate , brook , abide , suffer , put up ]

support materially or financially; he does not support his natural children; The scholarship supported me when I was in college'

be behind; approve of; He plumped for the Labor Party; I backed Kennedy in 1960

[ Syn: back , endorse , indorse , plump for , plunk for ]

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; Whats holding that mirror?

[ Syn: hold , sustain , hold up ]

establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts; his story confirmed my doubts; The evidence supports the defendant

[ Syn: confirm , corroborate , sustain , substantiate , affirm ]

adopt as a belief; I subscribe to your view on abortion

[ Syn: subscribe ]

support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm; The stories and claims were born out by the evidence

[ Syn: corroborate , underpin , bear out ]

argue or speak in defense of; She supported the motion to strike

[ Syn: defend , fend for ]

play a subordinate role to (another performer); Olivier supported Gielgud beautifully in the second act'