a supporting role

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a supporting role" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a character or position that provides assistance or support to the main character or leader in a narrative or organizational context. Example: "In the film, the actor played a supporting role that added depth to the main storyline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Sports

Politics

Literature

Military

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It practically plays a supporting role.

The New York Times

Adults were assigned a supporting role.

The New York Times

"Man plays a supporting role".

The Guardian - Books

Chris Rock in a supporting role on Broadway?

The New York Times - Arts

It's powerful but it's a supporting role".

The Guardian - Music

His willingness to play a supporting role.

The New York Times - Sports

But parliament did play a supporting role.

The Guardian

He would apprentice in a supporting role.

The New York Times - Sports

McAdams is said to be taking a supporting role.

The Guardian - Film

The baleful Alexi Lalas also has a supporting role somewhere.

The Guardian - Sport

The United States appears to have played a supporting role.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a supporting role" to clearly define a position or character that aids the primary entity without being the main focus. This is useful in clarifying responsibilities and contributions within a team or narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "a supporting role" when "a secondary role" is more appropriate. "Supporting" implies active assistance, whereas "secondary" simply means less important.

Linguistic Context

A supporting role functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes a position or character that aids the primary entity without being the central focus. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a supporting role" is a frequently used noun phrase that describes a non-central but contributory position or character. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical accuracy and versatility across different contexts, including news, film, and sports. When writing, use it to clearly define assistance roles without overshadowing the primary focus. Ludwig shows that it is essential to differentiate between "supporting" and "secondary" to accurately convey the nature of assistance. Remember to use this phrase to bring clarity to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a secondary function

Focuses on the job or duty, less on the individual.

an assistant position

Emphasizes hierarchy and direct assistance to someone.

a contributory part

Highlights the act of contributing to a final goal or product.

an instrumental element

Stresses the usefulness or helpfulness of the element.

a subservient capacity

Suggests a lower status and obedience to authority.

a collaborative effort

Highlights the cooperative nature of contributing.

a complementary action

Suggests that it fills a gap or completes something else.

a facilitative measure

Implies making something easier or more likely to happen.

a helping hand

Idiomatic expression suggesting direct assistance.

an auxiliary function

Indicates providing extra help or support when needed.

FAQs

How can I use "a supporting role" in a sentence?

You can use "a supporting role" to describe someone or something that assists the main entity. For example, "In the play, she had "a supporting role" as the protagonist's confidante."

What is an alternative to "a supporting role"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a secondary role", "an auxiliary position", or "a contributory part".

What's the difference between "a supporting role" and "a leading role"?

"A supporting role" involves assisting the main entity, while "a leading role" refers to the primary character or position responsible for driving the main action or narrative.

Is it correct to say "play a supporting role"?

Yes, it's perfectly correct. The verb "play" is often used with ""a supporting role"" to indicate the act of fulfilling that role, as in "He will play "a supporting role" in the upcoming project."