Many long-time residents who dislike the huge new grocery store patronize small local markets and farm stands.

In this context, the word "patronize" suggests which meaning?

O 1. show a lack of respect for

O 2. act superior toward

O 3. shop regularly at

O 4. own and operate

In this context, the word patronize suggests to shop regularly at.

Explanation:

The sentence states that there are many long time residents who didn't like to shop from the huge new grocery store, thus patronize small local markets. Here, the term patronize means a regular customer, the one who shops frequently from a particular store.

So when the new grocery store arrived, those people who were shopping regularly from old local shops, disliked the new store and thus continued shopping from their local grocery store and farm stands, in turn supporting their small business.