supportive
Supportive (adj) means giving encouragement, help, or approval. Example: “Her parents were incredibly supportive of her career change.”
How to Use Supportive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOffering encouragement, help, or emotional backing.
Word Forms
more supportive comparative, most supportive superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her parents were incredibly _____ of her career change.
Etymology
From support + -ive.
Related Words
Rhymes for supportive
See all rhymes for supportive →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “supportive” mean?
The word “supportive” means giving encouragement, help, or approval. In plain terms, offering encouragement, help, or emotional backing.
How do you pronounce “supportive”?
“Supportive” is pronounced suh-PAW-tihv (/səˈpɔɹtɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “supportive” in a sentence?
Here is “supportive” used in a sentence: “Her parents were incredibly supportive of her career change.”
What part of speech is “supportive”?
“Supportive” is an adjective.
Is “supportive” a common word?
“Supportive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
Is it "supportive of" or "supportive to"?
The standard preposition is "of": you are supportive of a person, a plan, or a decision. "Supportive to" sounds nonstandard in most contexts; if "to" feels needed, rephrase with the noun instead — "she has been a great support to her family."
What is the difference between "supportive" and "encouraging"?
"Encouraging" focuses on words and signals that build someone's confidence to act. "Supportive" is broader — giving encouragement, but also practical help and approval. A supportive colleague may share the workload as well as cheer you on; an encouraging one mainly lifts your morale.
What is the difference between being supportive and enabling?
Being supportive means giving encouragement, help, or approval that serves someone's genuine wellbeing. "Enabling," in its popular sense, means helping in a way that lets someone continue harmful behaviour — covering for a problem instead of helping the person face it. Support builds people up; enabling shields them from consequences.
What is the noun form of "supportive"?
The everyday noun is "support" — the encouragement, help, or approval itself — and the quality of being supportive is "supportiveness." So you thank someone for their support, and you might praise a team's supportiveness.