sustain
gb/səstˈeɪn/ us/səstˈeɪn/
B1
English
~ 2800
fenntart, tart, életben tart, szenved, elszenved, helyt ad, helybenhagy
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to sustain [something]
The company worked hard to sustain its rapid growth.
A vállalat keményen dolgozott azon, hogy fenntartsa gyors növekedését.
She couldn't sustain her energy through the long meeting.
Nem tudta végig fenntartani az energiaszintjét a hosszú megbeszélés alatt.
The team sustained their lead until the final whistle.
Efforts to sustain peace in the region have intensified.
He sustained his argument with strong evidence.
Learner examples
We need to sustain our work until the project is done.
Folytatnunk kell a munkát, amíg a projekt el nem készül.
She cannot sustain this speed for long.
Nem tudja sokáig tartani ezt a sebességet.
They want to sustain the good results.
It is hard to sustain interest in the topic.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sustain' with 'retain'; 'retain' means to keep possession, while 'sustain' means to keep something going.
Meaning
Maintain or keep going
Collocations
sustain growth
|sustain effort
|sustain interest
|sustain attention
|sustain activity
Synonyms
maintain (Often interchangeable, but 'maintain' can also mean to preserve a current state without necessarily implying effort over time.)
Antonyms
discontinue (Means to stop something that was continuing.)
Themes
general
|business
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To keep something happening or working for a period of time.
To cause something to continue for a period of time without stopping.
VERB
B1
2
fenntart
B2
életben tart
B1
Usage pattern:
to sustain [life/someone/something]
Clean water is essential to sustain life.
A tiszta víz elengedhetetlen az élet fenntartásához.
The forest sustains many species of birds.
Az erdő számos madárfaj életét tartja fenn.
These traditions have sustained the community for centuries.
The farm sustains them through the winter.
Small donations helped sustain the shelter.
Learner examples
Food and water sustain life.
Az étel és a víz fenntartja az életet.
The river sustains many animals.
A folyó sok állat életét tartja fenn.
Farmers sustain their families with their crops.
Meaning
Support life or existence
Collocations
sustain life
|sustain a community
|sustain an ecosystem
Synonyms
support (Similar meaning, but 'support' is broader and can be emotional, physical, or financial.)
Antonyms
deprive (Means to take away what is needed for survival or continuation.)
Themes
daily life
|environment
|health
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To give what is needed for someone or something to live or stay alive.
To provide the necessities that allow someone or something to live or continue existing.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to sustain [injury/loss/damage]
The driver sustained minor injuries in the crash.
A sofőr könnyebb sérüléseket szenvedett a balesetben.
The building sustained heavy damage during the storm.
Az épület súlyos károkat szenvedett a viharban.
The company sustained significant financial losses last year.
Several soldiers sustained wounds in the battle.
Learner examples
He sustained a broken leg in the game.
Lábtörést szenvedett a mérkőzésen.
The house sustained damage from the fire.
A ház károkat szenvedett a tűzben.
She sustained a cut on her arm.
Meaning
Suffer or endure harm
Collocations
sustain injuries
|sustain damage
|sustain losses
Synonyms
incur (Used more in formal contexts, especially about costs or penalties.)
Antonyms
avoid (Means to prevent something bad from happening.)
Themes
sports
|law
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To get and deal with something bad, like an injury or loss.
To experience and withstand something bad, such as an injury, loss, or defeat.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
4
helyt ad
C1
helybenhagy
C1
Usage pattern:
to sustain [an objection/appeal/decision]
The judge sustained the objection from the defense attorney.
A bíró helyt adott a védőügyvéd kifogásának.
The court sustained his appeal against the fine.
A bíróság helyt adott a bírság elleni fellebbezésének.
Her claim was sustained by the committee after review.
Learner examples
The judge sustained the lawyer's objection.
A bíró helyt adott az ügyvéd kifogásának.
The court sustained his request.
A bíróság helyt adott a kérelmének.
The claim was sustained by the board.
Meaning
Uphold a decision or ruling
Collocations
sustain an objection
|sustain an appeal
Synonyms
uphold ('Uphold' is more common outside courtrooms; 'sustain' is often used in legal rulings.)
Antonyms
overrule (Means to reject a decision or objection that was made earlier.)
Themes
law
|politics
Definition
To say officially that a rule, decision, or claim is correct and will stand.
To decide officially that a claim, objection, or decision is valid and will be accepted.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sustain
IPA
GB/səstˈeɪn/
US/səstˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
sus - tain (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tain)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: sustain
- 3rd Person Singular: sustains
- Present Participle: sustaining
- Past: sustained
Word family
Forms
sustains
verb
sustaining
verb
sustained
verb
Core family
Related words
sustenance
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unsustainable
adjective B2
unsustainably
adverb C1
Expressions
sustain an injury
1/səstˈeɪn ən ˈɪnd͡ʒɚi/
fixed phrase
Receive and endure an injury
To get hurt and have to deal with it.
Examples
- He sustained an injury during training and missed the match.
- Several passengers sustained injuries in the accident.
sustain an objection
1/səstˈeɪn ən əbd͡ʒˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
Accept legal objection as valid
In court, to say that a lawyer's protest is correct and will be allowed.
Examples
- Objection sustained, please rephrase your question.
- The judge sustained the objection before the witness could answer.
sustain life
1/səstˈeɪn lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
Provide for survival of life
To give what is needed so people, animals, or plants can live.
Examples
- The planet's atmosphere can sustain life.
- Water is necessary to sustain life on Earth.