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Definitions

sustain

[suh-steyn] / 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.

He further noted that both Fed officials and the public have a duty to “safeguard” the central bank’s credibility, which has taken decades to build and sustain.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

He went on: "We are also concerned that the current funding levels mean that many pharmacies will struggle to take this development forwards, risking its success. Pharmacies cannot sustain yet more loss-making work."

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Because plankton rely on nitrate to grow, lower nutrient levels could reduce the amount of life the Arctic ecosystem can sustain.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

Furthermore, Goldman notes that the large recent increases in AI capex estimates and associated earnings forecasts have created a high bar to sustain the pace of upward revisions going forward.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Farming enabled populations to increase so radically and rapidly that no complex agricultural society could ever again sustain itself if it returned to hunting and gathering.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari




Vocabulary lists containing sustain


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