supportive
gb/səpˈɔɹtɪv/ us/səpˈɔɹtɪv/
B1
English
~ 4900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Giving help or encouragement
Helping someone by giving them hope, care, or strength.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is supportive of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'supportive' with 'supporting'. 'Supportive' describes giving help or encouragement, while 'supporting' can mean physically holding something up or playing a secondary role in a performance.
Synonyms
encouraging (Focuses more on giving confidence rather than practical help.)
|
helpful (More general, can refer to assistance beyond emotional or moral support.)
Antonyms
unsupportive (Describes someone who does not give help or encouragement when needed.)
|
critical (Focuses on finding faults rather than offering help.)
Collocations
supportive friend
|supportive family
|supportive partner
|supportive environment
|supportive role
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was always supportive during his career changes.
- His colleagues were very supportive after he returned from leave.
- Having a supportive partner can make a big difference in stressful times.
- The teacher was supportive of her students' creative ideas.
- We need a more supportive work environment.
Learner examples
- My parents are always supportive of me.
- He is a supportive friend.
- The team was very supportive after my mistake.
- She is supportive when I feel sad.
- They are supportive of new ideas.
Grammar
Dictionary form
supportive
IPA
GB/səpˈɔɹtɪv/
US/səpˈɔɹtɪv/
Syllables & stress
sup - port - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (port)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: supportive
Word family
Expressions
a supportive environment
1/ə səpˈɔɹtɪv ɪnvˈaɪɹənmənt/
fixed phrase
An environment that helps and encourages people
A place or situation where people help and encourage each other.
Examples
- The school provides a supportive environment for learning.
- A supportive environment is important for mental health.
be supportive of
1/bˈi səpˈɔɹtɪv əv/
fixed phrase
Give help or encouragement to
To give help, care, or encouragement to someone or something.
Examples
- We should all be supportive of her decision to study abroad.
- The manager was supportive of the team's new project.