Definition

1. Verb:
   • To support, hold up, or bear the weight of something: To provide physical or structural support, preventing collapse or failure.
   • To provide with necessities for life or existence: To supply with what is needed to maintain life, health, or a certain condition.
   • To undergo or suffer something unpleasant: To experience or be subjected to something difficult or damaging.
   • To strengthen, confirm, or uphold the validity of something: To provide evidence or arguments that support a claim, theory, or legal motion.
   • To keep something going over time; to prolong or maintain: To cause something to continue for an extended period without interruption or decline.

Examples of Usage

• Physical Support:
  • The sturdy pillars sustain the weight of the ancient roof.
  • This diet is not enough to sustain human life for long.
• Provide Necessities:
  • The charity works to sustain families in need with food and medical care.
  • A few nuts were enough to sustain the hikers until they reached camp.
• Undergo or Suffer:
  • The soldier sustained serious injuries in the battle.
  • The company sustained heavy financial losses last quarter.
• Confirm or Uphold:
  • The new data sustains the researcher's original hypothesis.
  • The judge sustained the lawyer's objection.
• Prolong or Maintain:
  • It is difficult to sustain public interest in a long-running news story.
  • She sustained a high note beautifully during her performance.

Advanced Usage

• "Sustain a conversation": To keep a conversation going actively.
  • He was able to sustain a conversation on a wide variety of topics.
• "Sustained effort": Continuous and determined effort over time.
  • The project's success required the sustained effort of the entire team.
• "Sustain damage": To incur damage or harm.
  • The building sustained damage during the storm.

Variants and Related Words

• Sustainable (adj): Capable of being maintained at a certain rate or level without causing depletion or damage.
  • We need to find sustainable sources of energy.
• Sustenance (n): Food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment. The maintaining of someone or something in life or existence.
  • They depended on the land for their sustenance.
• Sustained (adj): Continuing for an extended period without interruption.
  • The audience gave the performer sustained applause.

Synonyms

• Support: To bear all or part of the weight; to give assistance to.
• Maintain: To cause something to continue; to keep in an existing state.
• Endure: To suffer patiently; to undergo.
• Uphold: To confirm or support something that has been questioned.
• Nourish: To provide with food or other substances necessary for growth and health.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Sustain" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "Sustain the pace": To maintain a particular speed or level of activity.
  • The marathon runner could not sustain the pace set by the leaders.
• "Sustain life": To provide the conditions necessary for living.
  • The planet's atmosphere is too thin to sustain life.

Verb

1. establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
   • his story confirmed my doubts
   • The evidence supports the defendant
2. admit as valid
   • The court sustained the motion
3. be the physical support of; carry the weight of
   • The beam holds up the roof
   • He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
   • What's holding that mirror?
4. supply with necessities and support
   • She alone sustained her family
   • The money will sustain our good cause
   • There's little to earn and many to keep
5. provide with nourishment
   • We sustained ourselves on bread and water
   • This kind of food is not nourishing for young children
6. undergo (as of injuries and illnesses)
   • She suffered a fracture in the accident
   • He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars
   • She got a bruise on her leg
   • He got his arm broken in the scuffle
7. lengthen or extend in duration or space
   • We sustained the diplomatic negotiations as long as possible
   • prolong the treatment of the patient
   • keep up the good work