Advertisement

Advertisement

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
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ܲˈٲԱ, adjective
  • sustainedly, adverb
  • ܲˈٲԳԳ, noun
  • ܲˈٲԾԲ, adjective
  • ܲˈٲԾԲly, adverb
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ܲ·ٲ·· adjective
  • ܲ·ٲ·Բ· adverb
  • ܲ·ٲ·Գ noun
  • ԴDz·ܲ·ٲ·Բ adjective
  • ܲ·ܲ·ٲ·Բ adjective
Discover More

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”
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of sustain1

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

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The worry for Everton is it looks like James Tarkowski is out for the season with the hamstring injury he sustained against Manchester City.

From

He built the community directly from his phone and, whether intended or not, that connection has sustained his career - insulating him from the tyrannies of radio playlists and streaming placement.

From

"It would be impossible for people to sustain an effective campaign with people going to prison for years after a single action," the spokesperson told me.

From

These are all people who are trying to sustain their marriages and families in the most absurd way possible.

From

Lock Rosie Galligan is named as a replacement but could still miss the game because of a cut on her knee, which was sustained in training and is being managed.

From

Advertisement

Discover More

When To Use

are other ways to say sustain?

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 .

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Sussex spanielsustainability