Sustain
To provide support or nourishment; to keep something going over time; to endure or undergo under challenging conditions.
verbSustain
To provide support or nourishment; to keep something going over time; to endure or undergo under challenging conditions.
verbImagine This
Picture a sturdy bridge that must sustain daily traffic; engineers reinforce it to keep cars crossing safely for decades.
Sounds Like
suh-STAIN (rhymes with retain)
Looks Like
Contains the root 'tain' as in 'retain' and resembles 'maintain'.
Remember This
Sustain comes from Latin sustinere 'to hold up', via Old French sustenir; related forms include sustainment and sustainable growth.
Other Forms
Connect With
maintain, uphold, support, endure, persevere
Note
Sustain implies continuing support or endurance, often under strain, whereas maintain can imply keeping something in good condition without necessarily under pressure. It is typically a transitive verb (you sustain something).
Study Deeper
- Charitable donations sustain the school's operations for another year.
- The athlete sustained a serious injury during the match.
From Latin sustinere 'to hold up, support' (sub- 'up' + tenere 'to hold'); via Old French sustenir into English.
Stand Under Strain: remember that to sustain something is to stand under pressure and keep it going.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
Abscond
verbTo depart secretly or flee, especially to avoid detection or arrest.
Absolve
verbTo free someone from blame or responsibility; to pardon or exonerate.