sustain
C1Formal and neutral
Definition
Meaning
To keep something going over time; to support, bear the weight of, or maintain.
To uphold the validity of (a claim, objection, etc.); to undergo or suffer (an injury, loss, etc.); to support the life or existence of (physically or mentally).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In legal contexts, often means 'to rule in favour of' (to sustain an objection). In environmental contexts, means 'to keep an ecosystem viable'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning or usage. Legal use ('sustain an objection') is equally common. Slight preference for 'sustained' in UK for prolonged musical notes (e.g., 'sustained applause').
Connotations
Both share formal, positive connotations of endurance and support.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American legal and environmental writing, but overall comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Sustain [OBJECT] (e.g., sustain growth)Sustain [OBJECT] for [TIME PERIOD] (e.g., sustained it for weeks)Sustain [OBJECT] against [CHALLENGE] (e.g., sustain an argument against criticism)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sustain a blow”
- “Sustained effort”
- “The jury sustained the objection”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to maintaining profitability, growth, or competitive advantage over time.
Academic
Often used in environmental science (sustainable development), social sciences (sustaining communities), and music (sustained note).
Everyday
Typically used for injuries ('sustain a broken arm'), support during hardship ('sustained by hope'), or maintaining effort.
Technical
In engineering/physics: to bear a load without failure; in music: to prolong a sound.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government must sustain funding for the NHS.
- The beam sustained the weight of the roof.
- He sustained severe bruising in the rugby match.
American English
- The economy cannot sustain this level of growth.
- The judge sustained the objection.
- Her faith sustained her through the ordeal.
adverb
British English
- She worked sustainedly for months.
- The note rang out sustainedly.
American English
- He argued sustainedly for his position.
- The applause continued sustainedly.
adjective
British English
- Sustainable energy is a key policy.
- The aircraft made a sustained climb.
American English
- Sustainable agriculture is vital.
- He faced sustained criticism from the media.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A good meal will sustain you for the journey.
- Wood must be strong to sustain weight.
- The company hopes to sustain its profits next year.
- He sustained a minor injury playing football.
- The evidence is not strong enough to sustain such a serious accusation.
- The soil here is too poor to sustain crops.
- The court sustained the plaintiff's motion to dismiss.
- The theory is sustained by a wealth of empirical data.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'sustain' as 'SUpport STAINed over TIME'. The 'stain' part is false, but the image of a stain that lasts helps recall 'endure over time'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUPPORT IS HOLDING UP (a structure); CONTINUITY IS A PATH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'поддерживать' in the sense of 'agree with/approve'. 'Sustain' is about enabling continuation, not approval.
- Avoid direct translation of 'sustain damage' as 'сохранять ущерб'. It means 'получить/претерпеть ущерб'.
- Do not overuse for simple 'continue'. It implies active effort against resistance.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sustain' for short-term actions (e.g., 'I sustained my cup of coffee').
- Confusing 'sustain' with 'obtain' (e.g., 'He sustained a prize' is wrong).
- Incorrect preposition: 'sustain on' instead of 'sustain with' or 'be sustained by'.
Practice
Quiz
In a legal context, what does it mean if a judge 'sustains an objection'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is more common in formal, academic, legal, and business contexts. In everyday speech, simpler words like 'keep up', 'support', or 'get' (an injury) are often used.
'Maintain' often focuses on keeping something at an existing level (maintain a car, maintain order). 'Sustain' emphasises keeping something going over time, often against difficulty or with a focus on providing what is needed for its continuation (sustain life, sustain growth).
Yes, but in a specific sense. 'To sustain an injury/loss/damage' means to undergo or suffer it, implying the injury is endured. It is a formal alternative to 'suffer' or 'receive' in this context.
The primary noun is 'sustenance' (meaning food/drink that sustains life). 'Sustainability' refers to the ability to be sustained, especially ecologically. The act of sustaining can be called 'sustenance' or 'sustainment' (less common).