sup‧port 1 S1 W2 / səpɔt $ -ɔrt / 动词 [及物动词] #

1 agree and help to say that you agree with an idea, group, or person, and usually to help them because you want them to succeed :

The bill was supported by a large majority in the Senate.

support somebody in (doing) something

We need to support our teachers in their efforts to raise standards.

We strongly support the peace process.

2 be kind to somebody to help someone by being sympathetic and kind to them during a difficult time in their life :

My wife supported me enormously.

3 provide money to live to provide enough money for someone to pay for all the things they need :

I have a wife and two children to support .

support somebody by (doing) something

She supports her family by teaching evening classes.

support yourself

I have no idea how I am going to support myself.

4 give money to something to give money to a group, organization, or event etc to encourage it or pay for its costs :

There are a handful of charities which I support regularly.

5 hold something up to hold the weight of something, keep it in place, or prevent it from falling :

The middle part of the bridge is supported by two huge towers.

During sleep, our spine no longer needs to support the weight of our body.

support yourself (on something)

I got to my feet, supporting myself on the side of the table.

6 prove something if results, facts, studies etc support an idea or statement, they show or prove that it is correct :

The results support our original theory.

There is little evidence to support such explanations.

7 sports team British English to like a particular sports team and go to watch the games they play :

Which team do you support ?

I’ve supported Liverpool all my life.

8 computers to provide information and material to improve a computer program or system, or to make it keep working :

I don’t think they support that version of the program anymore.

9 land if land can support people or animals, it is of good enough quality to grow enough food for them to live :

This land can’t support many cattle.

10 water/air/earth if water, air, or earth can support life, it is clean enough, has enough oxygen etc to keep animals or plants alive :

Because of pollution, this lake is now too acid to support fish.

healthy soil that can support plant life

11 support a habit to get money in order to pay for a bad habit, especially taking drugs :

He turned to crime to support his habit.

THESAURUS

to agree with and help somebody/something

support to say that you agree with a person or idea, and usually help them because you want them to succeed : We will support your decision. | Thanks to everyone who supported us throughout the trial. | The tsunami appeal was supported by thousands of people.

back to support a person or plan by providing money or practical help – used about governments or other powerful groups : The £100 million scheme is backed by the British government. | The people backing him do not have the interests of the club at heart.

endorse to formally and officially say that you support a person, plan, or idea : Agriculture ministers refused to endorse the Commission’s proposals.

get behind somebody/something to support a person or plan and help them be successful - used especially about a group of people : The England fans really got behind the team. | I really believe in this initiative, but it was hard to find business people who were willing to get behind it. | The police can’t do anything unless the public gets behind them.

stand up for somebody/something to say that you support someone or something when they are being attacked : You were the only person who stood up for me at the meeting. | He stood up for what he believed in.

side with somebody to support one of the people or groups involved in an argument - used especially when you disapprove of this or think it is unfair : I felt she was siding with her mother rather than standing up for me. | The jury often side with the defendant in these situations.

to stop something from falling

support to hold the weight of something and stop it from falling : The branch was too weak to support his weight. | The ceiling was supported by huge stone columns. | Her body was so weak that she had to be supported by two nurses.

hold up to stop something from falling : These poles hold up the outer part of the tent. | His trousers were held up by an old piece of string.

prop up to stop something from falling by putting something against it or under it : The builders have propped up the walls with steel beams.

carry to support the weight of someone or something – used about something supporting several people, vehicles etc : The bridge could only carry up to two cars at a time. | The lift can carry up to 12 people.

hold to be strong enough to support the weight of someone or something : Are you sure the branch will hold both of us? | She prayed that the roof would hold her weight as she crawled along it.

bear literary or technical to hold the weight of something : The truck did not look strong enough to bear the weight of all those people. | a load-bearing wall

take somebody’s/something’s weight to be strong enough to support the weight of someone or something : His damaged leg would not take his weight. | Any large mirrors should have additional support to take their weight. | Make sure you choose a pole that will take the weight of your curtains.

support 2 S1 W1 noun #

1 approval [不可数名词] approval, encouragement, and perhaps help for a person, idea, plan etc :
Local people have given us a lot of support in our campaign. support for There was widespread support for the war. in support They signed a petition in support of the pay claim. support of He had the full support of the general committee. 2 sympathy/help [不可数名词] sympathy and help that you give to someone who is in a difficult situation or who is very unhappy :
I couldn’t have made it through those times without the support of my boyfriend Rob. 3 money [不可数名词] money that you give a person, group, organization etc to help pay for their costs :
The European Union is considering whether to provide financial support for the expedition. with sb’s support With your support, we can help these youngsters. 4 holding something up [可数和不可数名词] something that presses on something else to hold it up or in position :
The roof may need extra support. the wooden supports of the bridge for support She grabbed at his shoulders for support. 5 proof [不可数名词] facts that show that an idea or statement is correct support for My own research provides some support for this view. 6 computers [不可数名词] the help or information that you receive to improve a computer system, make it continue working, or use it correctly :
our technical support team 7 concert/performance [不可数名词] a band, singer, or performer that performs for a short time at the same concert as a more famous and popular band etc :
We played support to a band called Shallow. the support band the support act (= the support band ) 8 soldiers [不可数名词] help or protection that is given by one group of soldiers to another group who are fighting in a battle :
logistical support air/ground support (= help or protection that comes from people in aircraft or people on the ground ) 9 for part of body [可数名词] something that you wear to hold a weak or damaged part of your body in the right place back/neck/knee etc support → child support , income support , life support system , → moral support at moral 1 ( 3 )

COLLOCATIONS

verbs have support The extreme right-wing parties don’t have much popular support. give (your) support ( also lend (your) support formal ) The American people gave him their enthusiastic support. | The naturalist Sir David Attenborough has lent his support to the campaign. pledge/offer (your) support (= say that you will support someone or something ) Both the opposition parties pledged full support for the new administration. get/draw support The plan drew wide support from parents. win/gain/attract support Try to win the support of local shopkeepers. enjoy/command support formal (= have support ) His views were too extreme to command general support. drum up/rally support (= get people’s support by making an effort ) Both sides have been drumming up support through the internet. enlist sb’s support formal (= ask for and get their support ) He wrote to the Prime Minister in an attempt to enlist his support. mobilize support (= get people to support something in an active way ) Part of their mission was to mobilize popular support for Franco. build (up) support (= increase it ) Now he needs to build his support by explaining what he believes in. withdraw support (= no longer support ) He’s decided to withdraw his support for the project.

adjectives public/popular support There seemed to be no popular support for war. widespread/wide/general support There is widespread support for the Government’s proposal. strong support A survey found strong support for the project among hospital staff. massive support We have massive public support. sb’s full support That view deserves the full support of all farmers. whole-hearted/enthusiastic support I want you to know that you have my whole-hearted support. active support (= approval and help ) Les, with the active support of his wife Pam, has spent several years compiling a list of the prisoners. unanimous support (= when all members of a group support something ) There was nearly unanimous support for the proposal.

THESAURUS

help the things you do to make it easier or possible for someone to do something : Now that I’m working, the kids need to give me more help with the housework. | The book would never have been finished without his help. assistance help. Assistance is more formal than help , and is used especially about people giving official help : The police are asking the public for their assistance. | The project received financial assistance from the government. | Thank you very much for your assistance, sir. | He set up the business with the assistance of his two sons. aid help. Aid is more formal than help , and is used especially about money, food, medicine etc. that is given to countries or people that are in a very bad situation : Aid is being sent to areas affected by the earthquake. | The US spends billions of dollars on aid to developing countries. | Another driver stopped and came to his aid . support help and encouragement : Thanks to everyone who gave us their support. | We could not have won the case without your support. cooperation help – used especially when people, organizations, or countries work together to get things done, and show that they are willing to do this : a spirit of international cooperation | The cooperation of landowners was needed for the plan to succeed. backup extra people, equipment etc that can be used in case people need help : The officer waited for backup to arrive before making any arrests.