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View synonyms for

sustain

[suh-steyn]

verb (used with object)

  1. to support, hold, or bear up from below; bear the weight of, as a structure.

    Synonyms:
  2. to bear (a burden, charge, etc.).

  3. to undergo, experience, or suffer (injury, loss, etc.); endure without giving way or yielding.

    Synonyms:
  4. to keep (a person, the mind, the spirits, etc.) from giving way, as under trial or affliction.

  5. to keep up or keep going, as an action or process.

    to sustain a conversation.

    Synonyms:
  6. to supply with food, drink, and other necessities of life.

  7. to provide for (an institution or the like) by furnishing means or funds.

  8. to support (a cause or the like) by aid or approval.

  9. to uphold as valid, just, or correct, as a claim or the person making it.

    The judge sustained the lawyer's objection.

  10. to confirm or corroborate, as a statement.

    Further investigation sustained my suspicions.



sustain

/ səˈsteɪn, səˈsteɪnɪdlɪ /

verb

  1. to hold up under; withstand

    to sustain great provocation

  2. to undergo (an injury, loss, etc); suffer

    to sustain a broken arm

  3. to maintain or prolong

    to sustain a discussion

  4. to support physically from below

  5. to provide for or give support to, esp by supplying necessities

    to sustain one's family

    to sustain a charity

  6. to keep up the vitality or courage of

  7. to uphold or affirm the justice or validity of

    to sustain a decision

  8. to establish the truth of; confirm

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. music the prolongation of a note, by playing technique or electronics

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • sustainable adjective
  • sustainingly adverb
  • sustainment noun
  • nonsustaining adjective
  • unsustaining adjective
  • ܲˈٲԱ adjective
  • sustainedly adverb
  • ܲˈٲԳԳ noun
  • ܲˈٲԾԲ adjective
  • ܲˈٲԾԲly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sustain1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English suste(i)nen, from Anglo-French sustenir, Old French, from Latin ܲپŧ “to uphold,” equivalent to sus- sus- + -پŧ, combining form of ٱŧ “to hold”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sustain1

C13: via Old French from Latin ܲپŧ to hold up, from sub- + ٱŧ to hold
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In times of economic vendor hardship such as rainy seasons or emergencies like January’s fires, the nonprofit launched a “vendor buy-out” initiative to help sustain them.

From

"To come under sustained attack when you are there to serve and protect all is disheartening to say the least," she added.

From

it did affect, that we could just see, was it sustained cultural impact.

From

If the US leaves, Aukus could very well become an awkward Auk – but could the UK realistically offer enough for Australia to sustain the agreement?

From

The United States has also contributed to this effort to a degree with sustained operations against the Houthis in Yemen from March to May this year, including hundreds of airstrikes.

From

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When To Use

are other ways to saysustain?

To sustain a claim or an idea is to uphold it as valid, just or correct. How does sustain differ from the synonyms maintain, support, or uphold? Find out on Thesaurus.com. 

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Sussex spanielsustainability