Word
sustaining
Phoneticssus·tain·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/səˈsteɪnɪŋ/
UK/səstˈeɪnɪŋ/
Definitions
01providing support or energy
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. providing the strength, food, or support you need to keep going.
adj. providing necessary support, nourishment, or maintenance of a state or process.
“A sustaining breakfast of porridge and fruit helped him stay full until lunch.”
“The community provided a sustaining network of emotional support for the family during the difficult months following the accident.”
Usage
Often used to describe food, hope, or social systems that prevent failure or exhaustion.
Synonyms
02the act of maintaining
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act or process of keeping something alive or continuing.
n. the action or process of upholding, supporting, or maintaining a condition or entity.
“The sustaining of these old traditions is very important to the local people.”
“The long-term sustaining of the ecosystem requires a delicate balance between human intervention and natural processes.”
Usage
Functions as a gerund; often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03continuing or supporting
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. the -ing form of 'sustain', used to show an ongoing action of supporting or suffering.
v. the present participle of 'sustain', used in continuous tenses or as a participial adjective to indicate ongoing maintenance or the experiencing of injury.
“The company is sustaining heavy losses this year due to the poor economy.”
“By sustaining a high level of pressure throughout the match, the team eventually forced their opponents into a critical defensive error.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sustaining” in context.
Real-World Examples
“He missed much of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining a serious knee injury, and parts of last season were disrupted by a hamstring issue.” “Former boxer Prichard Colon has died at the age of 33, 11 years after sustaining life-changing brain injuries in the ring.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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