Word
sustenance
Phoneticssus·te·nance, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsəstənəns/
UK/sˈʌstənəns/
Definition
n. the food and drink you need to stay alive and healthy. It is a more formal word than 'food' or 'meals'.
n. the food and drink necessary for life and health. Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe the basic necessities of survival.
Examples
“In many remote villages, the local community relies on traditional farming methods to provide the daily sustenance for the entire population.”
“The explorers faced extreme hardship when their supplies of sustenance were exhausted, forcing them to forage for edible plants and hunt for game to survive the winter.”
Examples
contextual
“In many remote villages, the local community relies on traditional farming methods to provide the daily sustenance for the entire population.”
complex
“The explorers faced extreme hardship when their supplies of sustenance were exhausted, forcing them to forage for edible plants and hunt for game to survive the winter.”
Real-World Examples
“Hayes organized thorough hunts for fresh water and sustenance, and these searches found two freshwater wells, seabird eggs for food, as well as plentiful fish, wallabies and seals for meat.” “But the people ticketed were surprised because Chow herself has come out to help them deliver sustenance and supplies to the needy in the past.” “Unlike nuts, these foods are low in calories, spurring the bears to seek out further sustenance.” “Boiling meat and bones rendered tough cuts edible and extracted maximum flavour and sustenance.” Etymology
From Middle English sustenaunce, from Old French sustenance, from sustenir with the suffix -ance, from Vulgar Latin *sustenire, from Latin sustinere. Compare also Late Latin sustinentia.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/sustenance