sustain
gb/səstˈeɪn/ us/səstˈeɪn/
B1
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
Maintain or keep going
To keep something happening or working for a period of time.
Usage pattern:
to sustain [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sustain' with 'retain'; 'retain' means to keep possession, while 'sustain' means to keep something going.
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.)
Collocations
sustain growth
|sustain effort
|sustain interest
|sustain attention
|sustain activity
Themes
general
|business
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company worked hard to sustain its rapid growth.
- She couldn't sustain her energy through the long meeting.
- 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.
- She cannot sustain this speed for long.
- They want to sustain the good results.
- It is hard to sustain interest in the topic.
Verb
B1
action
2
Support life or existence
To give what is needed for someone or something to live or stay alive.
Usage pattern:
to sustain [life/someone/something]
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.)
Collocations
sustain life
|sustain a community
|sustain an ecosystem
Themes
daily life
|environment
|health
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Clean water is essential to sustain life.
- The forest sustains many species of birds.
- 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.
- The river sustains many animals.
- Farmers sustain their families with their crops.
Verb
formal
B2
action
3
Suffer or endure harm
To get and deal with something bad, like an injury or loss.
Usage pattern:
to sustain [injury/loss/damage]
Synonyms
incur (Used more in formal contexts, especially about costs or penalties.)
Antonyms
avoid (Means to prevent something bad from happening.)
Collocations
sustain injuries
|sustain damage
|sustain losses
Themes
sports
|law
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The driver sustained minor injuries in the crash.
- The building sustained heavy damage during the storm.
- 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.
- The house sustained damage from the fire.
- She sustained a cut on her arm.
Verb
formal
C1
action
4
Uphold a decision or ruling
To say officially that a rule, decision, or claim is correct and will stand.
Usage pattern:
to sustain [an objection/appeal/decision]
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.)
Collocations
sustain an objection
|sustain an appeal
Themes
law
|politics
Examples
- The judge sustained the objection from the defense attorney.
- The court sustained his appeal against the fine.
- Her claim was sustained by the committee after review.
Learner examples
- The judge sustained the lawyer's objection.
- The court sustained his request.
- The claim was sustained by the board.
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.