sustained
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Maintained continuously at length, without interruption or weakening.
Pertaining to something continued over a prolonged period, often requiring effort or endurance to maintain; capable of enduring strain or challenge without failing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies active effort, resilience, or a designed capacity to last. Can describe abstract concepts (effort, interest) or physical phenomena (sound, growth). Contrasts with 'brief', 'sporadic', or 'intermittent'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Minor differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'sustained growth' slightly more common in economic/business contexts in AmE).
Connotations
Equally formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in academic, journalistic, and professional registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + sustain + [Object] (e.g., The arches sustain the weight.)[Subject] + sustain + [Object] + for + [time period] (e.g., She sustained the note for ten seconds.)[Subject] + be sustained + by + [Agent/Means] (e.g., His hope was sustained by letters from home.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sustained by the belief that...”
- “A sustained note/chord”
- “The argument was not sustained.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to consistent financial or market performance over time (e.g., 'sustained profitability').
Academic
Describes prolonged processes, efforts, or phenomena in research (e.g., 'sustained attention', 'sustained inquiry').
Everyday
Used for physical effort or interest that lasts (e.g., 'a sustained gardening project').
Technical
In engineering/medicine, refers to continuous stress, load, or injury (e.g., 'sustained load', 'sustained ventricular tachycardia').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The charity works to sustain communities affected by poverty.
- The evidence was too weak to sustain a conviction.
- He sustained a serious injury during the match.
American English
- The runner couldn't sustain that pace for the whole marathon.
- The company sustained heavy losses last quarter.
- A diet that sustains energy throughout the day.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as a standalone adverb. Typically 'in a sustained manner'.
American English
- Not commonly used as a standalone adverb. Typically 'in a sustained manner'.
adjective
British English
- The orchestra received sustained applause for their performance.
- The investigation requires sustained concentration from the team.
- A period of sustained economic growth is forecast.
American English
- The boxer faced a sustained attack in the final round.
- Her sustained effort finally paid off with a promotion.
- The region experienced sustained winds of 50 mph.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby's crying was sustained for over an hour.
- The teacher gave us a sustained look.
- The football team kept up a sustained attack on the opponent's goal.
- The movie held our sustained interest from beginning to end.
- The success of the project was due to the sustained effort of the entire department.
- The country has enjoyed a sustained period of peace and prosperity.
- The author's argument is not sustained by the available empirical data.
- The defendant's objection was sustained by the judge.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'sustained' musical note held by a singer – it goes on and on, requiring sustained breath control.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENDURANCE IS SUSTAINING FORCE (e.g., 'Her courage sustained her through the ordeal.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'поддерживаемый' when it implies passive support; 'sustained' is more active/lasting. Not a direct equivalent for 'устойчивый' (stable/steady) in all contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sustained' for very short events. Confusing 'sustained damage' (continuous damage) with 'serious damage'. Overusing in informal contexts where 'long' or 'constant' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In a legal context, if a judge says 'Objection sustained', what does it mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Continuous' implies no break at all. 'Sustained' emphasizes the length and maintained intensity, often despite potential for stopping or weakening. A 'sustained effort' suggests conscious maintenance.
Yes, commonly in music and acoustics (e.g., a sustained note, sustained applause). It describes a sound held for a noticeable length.
It is neutral but often positive in contexts like 'sustained growth' or 'sustained effort'. It can be negative, as in 'sustained criticism' or 'sustained damage'.
The related noun is 'sustenance' (meaning food/support) or more directly, 'sustainment'. However, the quality is often expressed with 'sustainability' (for systems) or simply using the gerund 'sustaining'.
Explore