C1adjective3K

Supportive

UK /["/səˈpɔːtɪv/"]/US /["/səˈpɔːrtɪv/"]/

Definition

encouraging somebody or giving them help or sympathy

In simple words: Helpful and encouraging to others.

Examples

  • a supportive family
  • She was very supportive during my father's illness.
  • a mutually supportive relationship
  • He was strongly supportive of my career.
  • They were all extremely supportive to me.
  • We are totally supportive of this idea.
  • They were strongly supportive of the government's approach.

Usage notes

Used in both personal and professional contexts to describe someone who offers help or encouragement. Appropriate when talking about friends, family, or colleagues. Less common in formal writing.

Grammar pattern

supportive + adjective/noun

Memory hint

Think of a 'supportive' friend as a 'support beam' that holds you up.

Collocations

  • be
  • seem
  • become
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • of
  • to

Synonyms

  • encouraging
  • helpful
  • nurturing
  • beneficial
  • compassionate

Antonyms

  • unsupportive
  • discouraging
  • critical

Common mistakes

  • Confusing 'supportive' with 'supporting' when describing a person.
  • Using 'supportive' in contexts where 'patronizing' would be more accurate.
  • Not using the adjective form correctly, like saying 'support' instead of 'supportive'.