root for — to support or encourage someone, especially in a competition or difficult situation
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to support or encourage someone, especially in a competition or difficult situation
Pronunciation (IPA): /ruːt fɔːr/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother still roots for players she's never heard of, just because they have nice smiles on TV.
- I'll always root for you, even when you're trying to assemble IKEA furniture at 2 AM.
- The whole community is rooting for the local bakery to survive the economic downturn.
root for
VERB[/ruːt fɔːr/]
to support or encourage someone, especially in a competition or difficult situation
The whole town came out to root for their little league team in the championship.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The verb 'root for' developed from the noun 'root' (meaning the underground part of a plant) in 19th-century American English. The metaphorical extension draws from the image of a tree firmly anchored by its roots, applying this sense of stable support to the act of actively backing or supporting a person or team.
Breakdown
root (the embedded base of a plant, metaphorically solid support) + for (on behalf of, in favor of). The phrase combines the noun with the preposition to express steadfast encouragement or backing, as if providing firm foundational support like a plant's root system.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother still roots for players she's never heard of, just because they have nice smiles on TV.”
“I'll always root for you, even when you're trying to assemble IKEA furniture at 2 AM.”
“The whole community is rooting for the local bakery to survive the economic downturn.”
“She's rooting for her ex-boyfriend's new relationship because she's genuinely happy for him.”
📚Related Words
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