root for
root for — phrasal verb
- root forbase form
- roots for3rd person singular
- rooting for-ing form
- rooted forpast simple
1. to encourage someone who is trying to do something difficult, by telling them yo
to encourage someone who is trying to do something difficult, by telling them you believe they can succeed or by showing emotional support for their effort
Yuki's friends were rooting for her as she prepared for the national piano competition.
root for [someone] preparing for [something]
Sofia's family rooted for her through every round of the job interviews.
The whole neighbourhood was rooting for the firefighters battling the forest fire.
Amara's classmates rooted for her when she gave her first speech in front of the school.
- root against
to hope someone will fail; directly opposite and equally informal
文法句型
root for + noun/pronoun (object)
用法筆記
Often used when someone faces a challenge or a long process — not for casual everyday tasks. The object is the person you support, not the activity.
常見錯誤
2. to support a particular team or athlete during a sports event, wanting them to w
to support a particular team or athlete during a sports event, wanting them to win and showing your enthusiasm for them
Thiago has rooted for the same football club since he was six years old.
root for + team (long-term support)
Mei-Lin always roots for the underdog in any tennis match she watches.
Hassan's entire family rooted for the local basketball team during the championship game.
Fans from both cities flew in to root for their teams at the national finals.
- root against
to want the opposing team to lose; common in sports talk
文法句型
root for + team/club/player
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 is specifically about sports teams or athletes and implies wanting a win. Sense 1 is about supporting a person's general effort, not necessarily a competition. If you say 'root for my sister' it could be either — add context to disambiguate (e.g. mention a match for sense 2, a challenge for sense 1).