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sustain

[suh-stayn] / səˈsteɪn /




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.

See Examples For:

Because movement-triggered chronic back pain engages different brain networks from ordinary acute pain, researchers believe traditional treatments may fail to address some of the processes that sustain the experience of chronic pain.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

Military leaders say troops can sustain the naval blockade and protect commercial ships for as long as they are called upon to do so.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

“If we can sustain that, we have proven we are not easy to beat. I don’t think a lot of teams want to play us.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

Expect the Chancellor to laud the resilience and strength of the UK economy and seek to sustain it, and spread growth geographically.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

Tipping the scales at up to 1,450 pounds, he can sustain speeds of forty miles per hour.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Just a couple of miles into this leg, Bushby's handcart, which he uses to carry essential supplies, sustains a puncture.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

“It is this right that sustains and nurtures our democracy today.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

If chip sector momentum sustains throughout the day on Monday, that could “clear out the tone and build back positive momentum” from the past few months — “especially in semiconductors,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026

"Each facility is designed to operate for at least 20 years, and once live it sustains hundreds of specialist on-site roles," he added.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026

“Water is important because it sustains life,” I say.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga

Far from fitting the outdated stereotype of Neanderthals as simple, brutal creatures, Shanidar A provides rare physical evidence of a society capable of both deadly violence and sustained compassion.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

If adoption begins to generate sustained improvements in corporate margins and returns, the AI investment opportunity can broaden into a much wider range of sectors, she adds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Drought is only over when rivers, groundwater and reservoirs are back to normal levels and according to Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, we "need sustained rainfall to recover".

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

"North American refineries sustained high operating rates during the quarter but were unable to fully offset reduced global refining capacity availability," according to the remarks.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

The cell was as white as the hallway and illuminated by that same sustained, bright light.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

All-in sustaining costs were some 18% above what Macquarie had anticipated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

For thousands of Maine families who rely on lobstering, the stakes in sustaining maritime commerce are high.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026

With so much competition, Lionesses success is crucial for sustaining momentum in the women's game - but expectations are higher now.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Their findings suggest that phosphorus, a nutrient essential for life, played a central role in sustaining the oxygen levels that would eventually help make more complex organisms possible.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

Like a threave, it was only sustaining itself until some richer meal came along.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor


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