sustain
Usage
What are other ways to say sustain?
To sustain, a rather elevated word, suggests completeness and adequacy in supporting: The court sustained his claim. To support is to hold up or add strength to, literally or figuratively: The columns support the roof. To maintain is to support so as to preserve intact: to maintain an attitude of defiance. Uphold applies especially to supporting or backing another, as in a statement, opinion, or belief: to uphold the rights of a minority.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Centcom said more than a dozen warships are executing the mission, which the U.S. can sustain.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
In their statement on Tuesday, the UN agencies called on the international community to sustain funding for Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
But it will also provide an opportunity to reflect on how to sustain the momentum in a year that could bring significant changes — such as the expected takeover of legendary studio Warner Bros.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
Yet the deep water and open land that sustain his livelihood are part of what make Moerdijk so attractive to planners.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
How could this young man sustain another disappointment?
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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Vocabulary lists containing sustain
List 2
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"Joyas Voladoras" by Brian Doyle
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