support

support

n.

1. Aid

   help, assistance, comfort; see aid 1.

2. A reinforcement

   lining, concrete block, rib, stilt, stay, shore, supporter, buttress, pole, post, underpinning, dependence, prop, guide, backing, stiffener, flotation, collar, rampart, abutment, stave, stake, rod, pillar, column, timber; see also brace 1.

3. Financial aid

   maintenance, living, provision, livelihood, subsidy, subsistence, upkeep, care, relief, allowance, sustenance, alimentation, alimony, responsibility for; see also payment 1.

4. One who provides support

   backer, provider, second, preserver; see patron 1, supporter.

in support of

support

v.

1. To hold up from beneath

   prop, hold up, keep up, bolster up, shore up, bear up, bolster, buttress, brace, sustain, shore, stay, mainstay, underpin, undergird, keep from falling, shoulder, carry, bear, be a foundation for.

   Antonyms drop*, let fall, break down. *

2. To uphold

   uphold, maintain, sustain, back, back up, abet, aid, assist, help, bolster, stay, comfort, carry, bear out, hold, foster, shoulder, corroborate, cheer, establish, buoy, put forward, promote, advance, champion, advocate, countenance, approve, throw in with, stick by, stand behind, cast in on, substantiate, lot with, verify, get back of, stick up for, go to bat for*, confirm, further, encourage, hearten, strengthen, second, preserve, recommend, take care of, stand in with, pull for, agree with, stand up for, keep up, stand back of, take the part of, rally round, give a lift to*, boost*.

   Antonyms hinder*, discourage*, deter. *

3. To defend

   second, stand by, plead for; see defend 3.

4. To continue

   carry on, keep up, maintain; see continue 1.

5. To provide for

   take care of, keep an eye on, care for, attend to, look after, back, bring up, sponsor, underwrite, put up the money for, set up in business, finance, pay for, subsidize, guard, chaperon, nurse, pay the expenses of, grubstake*, stake*, bank-roll*, raise*, bring home the bacon*, earn one's keep*; see also sustain 2.

   Antonyms abandon*, ignore*, fail.

support, the broadest of these terms, suggests a favoring of someone or something, either by giving active aid or merely by approving or sanctioning to support a candidate for office; uphold suggests that what is being supported is under attack to uphold civil rights for all; sustain implies full active support so as to strengthen or keep from failing sustained by his hope for the future; maintain suggests a supporting so as to keep intact or unimpaired to maintain the law, a family, etc.; advocate implies support in speech or writing and sometimes connotes persuasion or argument to advocate a change in policy; back (often back up) suggests support, as financial aid or moral encouragement, given to prevent failure I'll back you up in your demands