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activity
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025 sus•tained /səˈsteɪnd/USA pronunciation adj. kept going; continuing; maintained. See -tain- .
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025 sus•tain /səˈsteɪn/USA pronunciation
v. [ ~ + object]
to support or bear up from below; bear the weight of:Can the bridge sustain the weight of all these trucks?
to undergo or suffer (injury, loss, etc.):The army sustained heavy losses.
to keep (a person, the spirits, etc.) from giving way, as when suffering trials, etc.:The thought of seeing his family again sustained him.
to keep up or going, as an action or process:to sustain a conversation.
to supply with food, drink, and other necessities of life:The candy bars were just enough to sustain us until the rescuers arrived.
to uphold or support as valid, just, or correct:The judge sustained the lawyer's objection. See
-tain- .
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025 sus•tain
(sə stān′ ),USA pronunciation v.t.
to support, hold, or bear up from below; bear the weight of, as a structure.
to bear (a burden, charge, etc.).
to undergo, experience, or suffer (injury, loss, etc.); endure without giving way or yielding.
to keep (a person, the mind, the spirits, etc.) from giving way, as under trial or affliction.
to keep up or keep going, as an action or process:to sustain a conversation.
to supply with food, drink, and other necessities of life.
to provide for (an institution or the like) by furnishing means or funds.
to support (a cause or the like) by aid or approval.
to uphold as valid, just, or correct, as a claim or the person making it:The judge sustained the lawyer's objection.
to confirm or corroborate, as a statement:Further investigation sustained my suspicions.
Latin sustinēre to uphold, equivalent. to sus- sus - + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold Anglo-French sustenir, Old French Middle English suste (i )nen 1250–1300
sus•tain′ a•ble , adj.
sus•tain′a•bil′ i•ty , n.
sus•tain•ed•ly
(sə stā′ nid lē, -stānd′ -),USA pronunciation adv.
sus•tain′ ing•ly , adv.
sus•tain′ ment , n.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged carry. See support. 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bear. 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged maintain.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sustain / səˈsteɪn / (transitive ) to hold up under; withstand : to sustain great provocation to undergo (an injury, loss, etc); suffer : to sustain a broken arm to maintain or prolong : to sustain a discussion to support physically from below to provide for or give support to, esp by supplying necessities : to sustain one's family , to sustain a charity to keep up the vitality or courage of to uphold or affirm the justice or validity of : to sustain a decision to establish the truth of; confirm the prolongation of a note, by playing technique or electronics Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin sustinēre to hold up, from sub- + tenēre to hold susˈtained sustainedly / səˈsteɪnɪdlɪ / susˈtaining susˈtainment