Sustain
verb
To support or hold up for a long period.
The bridge can sustain a weight of up to 10 tons.
Often appears as...
- sustain an injury
- sustain damage
verb
To keep something going.
The economy is struggling to sustain its growth.
Often appears as...
- sustain a conversation
- sustain effort
verb
To experience or be subject to.
He sustained a severe injury during the match.
Often appears as...
- sustain a loss
- sustain an attack
verb
To confirm the truth of.
The court sustained the previous verdict.
Often appears as...
- sustain an objection
- sustain a ruling
Usage tips
Formal
Legal
verb
To support or hold up for a long period.
The bridge can sustain a weight of up to 10 tons.
Often appears as...
- sustain an injury
- sustain damage
verb
To keep something going.
The economy is struggling to sustain its growth.
Often appears as...
- sustain a conversation
- sustain effort
verb
To experience or be subject to.
He sustained a severe injury during the match.
Often appears as...
- sustain a loss
- sustain an attack
verb
To confirm the truth of.
The court sustained the previous verdict.
Often appears as...
- sustain an objection
- sustain a ruling
Usage tips
Formal
Legal
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Physical support
Use 'sustain' when you talk about something providing physical support over time.
The beams sustain the entire weight of the building.
Pro Tip 2/2Long-term aspect
Emphasize the duration with 'sustain'; it's not just supporting, but doing so for a long period.
Only a few athletes can sustain peak performance for many years.
Pro Tip 1/2Physical support
Use 'sustain' when you talk about something providing physical support over time.
The beams sustain the entire weight of the building.
Pro Tip 2/2Long-term aspect
Emphasize the duration with 'sustain'; it's not just supporting, but doing so for a long period.
Only a few athletes can sustain peak performance for many years.
Pro Tip 1/2Physical support
Use 'sustain' when you talk about something providing physical support over time.
The beams sustain the entire weight of the building.
Pro Tip 2/2Long-term aspect
Emphasize the duration with 'sustain'; it's not just supporting, but doing so for a long period.
Only a few athletes can sustain peak performance for many years.
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Video examples
The Curious Life of a...
that could have sustained life. We get to shoot a laser at the rock. Now why did we do that? Instead of having to go over and touch every rock and taste every rock... like we said before, we can actually fire the laser at the rock, burn the surface of the rock and look at the gas that comes off. And from that gas we can see what the chemical composition of that rock is. What are the elements that are there.
Video examples
Can wildlife adapt to...
move to more suitable climates. Existing parks and protected areas are also doing climate change check-ups to help their wildlife cope. Fortunately, it's still within our power to preserve much of the wondrous biodiversity of this planet, which, after all, sustains us in so many ways.
Video examples
What is obesity? - Mia...
that well-monitored, long-term changes in behavior can lead to improvements in obesity-related health issues. And weight loss from sustained lifestyle changes, or invasive treatments like bariatric surgery, can improve insulin resistance and decrease inflammation.
Video examples
Why don't perpetual...
it could sustain life indefinitely. There's just one problem. They don't work. Ideas for perpetual motion machines all violate one or more fundamental laws of thermodynamics, the branch of physics that describes the relationship between different forms of energy.
Video examples
Celeste Headlee: 10 ways...
but rarely do they have an opportunity to hone their interpersonal communications skills. It might sound like a funny question, but we have to ask Is there any 21st-century skill more important than being able to sustain coherent, confident conversation?"
Video examples
Designing for a more...
these efforts my approach or my theory is that for us to design equity in attention in addition to developing these interventions we have to also cultivate the leaders to build and sustain this effort for this I propose a
Video examples
Everything you need to...
and how it came to assume its multiple meanings. The book traces Dr. Frankenstein's futile quest to impart and sustain life. He constructs his monster part by part from dead matter and electrifies it into conscious being.
Video examples
Vampires: Folklore,...
Charming, aren't they? Though they may look vastly different, all of these beings have one common They sustain themselves by consuming the life force of a living creature. This shared trait is what defines a vampire --
Video examples
The Intense 8 Hour Hunt...
to relieve the agony of his burning muscles. And he gives thanks for the life he has taken, so that he may sustain the lives of his family, waiting for him in their settlement.
Video examples
Oxygen’s surprisingly...
but behind the scenes, a huge coordinated effort is playing out. Your vital organs, the gut, brain, bones, lungs, blood, and heart work together to sustain your life
Video examples
The Curious Life of a...
that could have sustained life. We get to shoot a laser at the rock. Now why did we do that? Instead of having to go over and touch every rock and taste every rock... like we said before, we can actually fire the laser at the rock, burn the surface of the rock and look at the gas that comes off. And from that gas we can see what the chemical composition of that rock is. What are the elements that are there.
Video examples
Can wildlife adapt to...
move to more suitable climates. Existing parks and protected areas are also doing climate change check-ups to help their wildlife cope. Fortunately, it's still within our power to preserve much of the wondrous biodiversity of this planet, which, after all, sustains us in so many ways.
Video examples
What is obesity? - Mia...
that well-monitored, long-term changes in behavior can lead to improvements in obesity-related health issues. And weight loss from sustained lifestyle changes, or invasive treatments like bariatric surgery, can improve insulin resistance and decrease inflammation.
Video examples
Why don't perpetual...
it could sustain life indefinitely. There's just one problem. They don't work. Ideas for perpetual motion machines all violate one or more fundamental laws of thermodynamics, the branch of physics that describes the relationship between different forms of energy.
Video examples
Celeste Headlee: 10 ways...
but rarely do they have an opportunity to hone their interpersonal communications skills. It might sound like a funny question, but we have to ask Is there any 21st-century skill more important than being able to sustain coherent, confident conversation?"
Video examples
Designing for a more...
these efforts my approach or my theory is that for us to design equity in attention in addition to developing these interventions we have to also cultivate the leaders to build and sustain this effort for this I propose a
Video examples
Everything you need to...
and how it came to assume its multiple meanings. The book traces Dr. Frankenstein's futile quest to impart and sustain life. He constructs his monster part by part from dead matter and electrifies it into conscious being.
Video examples
Vampires: Folklore,...
Charming, aren't they? Though they may look vastly different, all of these beings have one common They sustain themselves by consuming the life force of a living creature. This shared trait is what defines a vampire --
Video examples
The Intense 8 Hour Hunt...
to relieve the agony of his burning muscles. And he gives thanks for the life he has taken, so that he may sustain the lives of his family, waiting for him in their settlement.
Video examples
Oxygen’s surprisingly...
but behind the scenes, a huge coordinated effort is playing out. Your vital organs, the gut, brain, bones, lungs, blood, and heart work together to sustain your life
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Barack Obama
American President
So long as I'm Commander-in-Chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known. When you take off the uniform, we will serve you as well as you've served us - because no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, or a roof over their head, or the care that they need when they come home.
Quote examples
Francis Spufford
English Author
The emotions that sustain religious belief are all, in fact, deeply ordinary and deeply recognisable to anybody who has ever made their way across the common ground of human experience as an adult.
Quote examples
Michelle Obama
American First Lady
My mother's love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, her intelligence reflected in my daughters.
Quote examples
Eve Ensler
American Playwright
When you destroy a population, once femicide happens, we're going to see the end of humanity, because I don't know how you sustain a future without vitalised women.
Quote examples
Dustin Hoffman
American Actor
The two basic items necessary to sustain life are sunshine and coconut milk.
Quote examples
Labrinth
American Musician
Of course, success takes you where your character can't sustain you.
Quote examples
Milovan Djilas
Politician
Normal life cannot sustain revolutionary attitudes for long.
Quote examples
Harmony Korine
American Director
Cinema sustains life. It captures death in its progress.
Quote examples
Ovadia Yosef
Iraqi Clergyman
Where there is Torah it sustains the world.
Quote examples
Pat Nixon
American First Lady
The truth sustains me.
Quote examples
Barack Obama
American President
So long as I'm Commander-in-Chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known. When you take off the uniform, we will serve you as well as you've served us - because no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, or a roof over their head, or the care that they need when they come home.
Quote examples
Francis Spufford
English Author
The emotions that sustain religious belief are all, in fact, deeply ordinary and deeply recognisable to anybody who has ever made their way across the common ground of human experience as an adult.
Quote examples
Michelle Obama
American First Lady
My mother's love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, her intelligence reflected in my daughters.
Quote examples
Eve Ensler
American Playwright
When you destroy a population, once femicide happens, we're going to see the end of humanity, because I don't know how you sustain a future without vitalised women.
Quote examples
Dustin Hoffman
American Actor
The two basic items necessary to sustain life are sunshine and coconut milk.
Quote examples
Labrinth
American Musician
Of course, success takes you where your character can't sustain you.
Quote examples
Milovan Djilas
Politician
Normal life cannot sustain revolutionary attitudes for long.
Quote examples
Harmony Korine
American Director
Cinema sustains life. It captures death in its progress.
Quote examples
Ovadia Yosef
Iraqi Clergyman
Where there is Torah it sustains the world.
Quote examples
Pat Nixon
American First Lady
The truth sustains me.
Example 1 of 10
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