0 past simple and past participle of support
1 to agree with and give encouragement to someone or something because you want him, her, or it to succeed:
My father supported the LabourDemocratic Party all his life.
The majority of people in the town strongly support the plans to build a new school.
I think it's important to support local businesses by buying locally.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] We will always do our best to support our students to succeed.
Which team do you support?
2 to help someone emotionally or in a practical way:
3 to give a person the money they need in order to buy food and clothes and pay for somewhere to live:
4 to hold something firmly or carry its weight, especially from below to stop it from falling:
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).
5 to help to show something to be true:
You can't make a statement like that without any supporting documentation.
6 to accept something and allow it to happen:
The headteacher told the boys that he would not support that kind of behaviour.
I don't support the death penalty, but if people are to be executed, it should be done humanely.
All those who support this proposal say "Aye".
Although I support the project in public, my private opinion is that it will fail.
Her speech failed to sway her colleagues into supporting the plan.
Judging by what he said, I think it's very unlikely that he'll be able to support your application.
I thought he wasn't going to support me, but I misjudged him.
Many Americans felt it was their patriotic duty to buy bonds to support the war effort.
