sustain
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to keep something going or continuing for a long time.
v.to maintain or keep something in existence over a prolonged period. Transitive; often used in environmental or economic contexts.
Simple“The company found it difficult to sustain such high levels of growth.”
In context“The ecosystem can no longer sustain the current rate of resource extraction without risking total collapse.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to provide the food, water, or energy needed to stay alive.
v.to provide for or nourish a living thing; to supply the necessities of life.
Simple“There is not enough oxygen on the planet to sustain human life.”
In context“The small oasis provides just enough water and vegetation to sustain the local wildlife during the harshest months of the dry season.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to experience something bad, like an injury or a financial loss.
v.to experience, undergo, or suffer something adverse, typically an injury or a loss. Transitive; common in medical and legal reporting.
Simple“The driver sustained minor injuries in the car accident.”
In context“The business sustained significant financial losses during the first quarter due to the unexpected shift in global trade policies.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to agree that a legal objection or a claim is valid and correct.
v.to allow, accept, or admit a legal objection or motion as valid. Used by a judge in a courtroom setting.
Simple“The judge said 'Sustained' after the lawyer made a valid objection.”
In context“The court chose to sustain the objection, ruling that the witness's testimony was based on hearsay rather than direct observation.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
n.the way a musical note continues to sound instead of stopping quickly.
n.the quality of a musical note being held or maintained; also refers to the mechanism, such as a piano pedal, that enables this.
Simple“The guitar has a beautiful sustain that lasts for several seconds.”
In context“The pianist used the sustain pedal to blend the chords together, creating a rich and atmospheric soundscape.”
Usage sustain life · sustain the operational
“Social care should enable people to live independently, sustain relationships, take part in education and employment, and contribute to their communities.”
“The novel taught me empathy, and that some relationships sustain us while others must be left behind.”
From Middle English susteinen, sustenen, from Old French sustenir (French soutenir), from Latin sustineō, sustinēre (“to uphold”), from sub- (“from below, up”) + teneō (“hold”, verb).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.