defend
/dɪˈfɛnd/
verb
Common
1.v.argue or speak in defense of
“She supported the motion to strike”
2.v.be on the defensive; act against an attack
3.v.protect against a challenge or attack
“Hold that position behind the trees!”
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defend and support share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. defend means “argue or speak in defense of”. support means “the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities”. support is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/dɪˈfɛnd/
1.v.argue or speak in defense of
“She supported the motion to strike”
2.v.be on the defensive; act against an attack
3.v.protect against a challenge or attack
“Hold that position behind the trees!”
/səˈpɔɹt/
1.n.the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
“his support kept the family together”
2.n.aiding the cause or policy or interests of
“the president no longer has the support of his own party”
3.n.something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest
“the policy found little public support”
| defend | support | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /dɪˈfɛnd/ | /səˈpɔɹt/ |
| Said | di-FEND | suh-PAWRT |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 6 | 7 |
| Parts of speech | verb | noun, verb |
| Senses | 7 | 22 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | support, fend for | none recorded |
Full entry for defend · Full entry for support · More comparisons