# sustaining

/səˈsteɪnɪŋ/ (US) · /səstˈeɪnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sustaining
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. providing support or energy

adjective · CEFR B2

providing the strength, food, or support you need to keep going.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. the act of maintaining

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act or process of keeping something alive or continuing.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. continuing or supporting

verb · CEFR B2

the -ing form of 'sustain', used to show an ongoing action of supporting or suffering.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The project needs sustaining investment to survive.
- The charity relies on sustaining donations from local businesses to keep its doors open all year.
- The region's economy depends on sustaining agricultural practices that preserve soil health while meeting the growing demands of a modern population.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.