sustain

Formssustains, sustaining, sustained

Pluralsustains

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To keep something going or keep it alive over time.

   Like adding wood to a fire so it keeps burning.

   Volunteers work hard to sustain the community garden each year.

   These small donations help sustain the shelter through winter.

   Similarmaintain, preserve, keep, support, prolong

   Oppositeend, abandon

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To suffer or receive harm, loss, or injury.

   Like a wall that cracks after taking a hard hit.

   He sustained a broken arm when he fell off his bike.

   Many buildings sustain damage during strong earthquakes.

   Similarsuffer, receive, incur

   Note
3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To give someone the food and care they need to live.

   Like watering a plant so it can keep growing.

   A small farm can sustain a whole family.

   These crops sustain millions of people around the world.

   Similarnourish, feed, support

   Oppositestarve

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To hold something up so it does not fall.

   Like a table leg holding up everything on top of it.

   Thick stone columns sustain the heavy roof.

   The old beams can no longer sustain the weight above them.

   Similarsupport, bear, carry, hold

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To show that something is true or correct.

   Like a witness who backs up your story.

   The new evidence sustains her version of events.

   Later tests did not sustain the first results.

   Similarconfirm, corroborate, support, substantiate, validate

   Oppositecontradict, refute, disprove

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To accept that something, like an objection, is allowed in court.

   Like a referee agreeing that a player's complaint is fair.

   The judge will sustain the lawyer's objection.

   Courts rarely sustain such weak claims.

   Similaruphold, affirm, grant

   Oppositeoverrule

   Note
7. 7
   verbtransitive

   To help and comfort someone in a hard time.

   Like a warm meal that gives a tired traveler new strength.

   Her family's love helped sustain her during the illness.

   Kind words can sustain a person through grief.

   Similarcomfort, support, strengthen, console

   Note
8. 8
   verbtransitive

   To support or approve of something so it can continue.

   Like clapping for someone so they keep singing.

   The council voted to sustain the new recycling program.

   Local leaders sustain efforts to clean up the river.

   Similarsupport, encourage, foster, nurture, bolster

   Oppositeundermine, discourage

9. 9
   nouncountable

   A control on an instrument that makes a note keep sounding.

   Like holding a bell so it keeps ringing instead of stopping.

   Press the sustain to let the chord ring out.

   She held down the sustain while playing the soft melody.

   Note

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