be supportive of

Meaning

This expression means to provide active encouragement, emotional help, or approval to someone during their endeavors, challenges, or decisions. It describes a caring attitude where you stand by someone and help them succeed or get through a tough time.

Examples

• My parents have always been very supportive of my career choices.

  My parents have always been very supportive of my career choices.

• It is important to be supportive of your friends when they are going through a hard time.

  It is important to be supportive of your friends when they are going through a hard time.

• The manager was highly supportive of the team's new creative ideas.

  The manager was highly supportive of the team's new creative ideas.

• Even though they disagreed, she tried to be supportive of his decision to move abroad.

  Even though they disagreed, she tried to be supportive of his decision to move abroad.

• A good partner will always be supportive of your personal growth and hobbies.

  A good partner will always be supportive of your personal growth and hobbies.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ You should be supportive with your partner.

  ✓ You should be supportive of your partner.

  The adjective 'supportive' is paired with the preposition 'of', not 'with' or 'to'.

• ✗ They are very support of my dreams.

  ✓ They are very supportive of my dreams.

  'Support' is a noun or verb. To describe a helpful attitude, you must use the adjective form 'supportive'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Good friends will always ___ your goals, even if they don't fully understand them.

  💡 provide encouragement and backing for

  Show answer

  be supportive of

• My husband wanted to ___ my new career path, so he helped me build a website.

  💡 show helpful encouragement and approval toward

  Show answer

  be supportive of