sustain Hear it!

sustain Definition

sus·tain (sə stān′)

transitive verb

  1. to keep in existence; keep up; maintain or prolong to sustain a mood
  2. to provide for the support of; specif., to provide sustenance or nourishment for
  3. to support from or as from below; carry the weight or burden of
  4. to strengthen the spirits, courage, etc. of; comfort; buoy up; encourage
  5. to bear up against; endure; withstand
  6. to undergo or suffer (an injury, loss, etc.)
  7. to uphold the validity or justice of to sustain a verdict
  8. to confirm; corroborate

Etymology: ME susteinen < OFr sustenir < L sustinere < sus- (see sub-), under + tenere, to hold (see thin)

sustain Related Forms
sus·tain′er noun sus·tain′·ment noun
sustain Synonyms

sustain

v.

  1. To carry

    bear, support, bear on the shoulder, carry on the back, hold up, support the weight of, keep from falling, keep from sinking, convey, transport, transfer, put a shoulder under, pack*, tote*, lug*. *

    Antonyms abandon*, drop*, desert. *

  2. To nourish

    keep up, maintain, provide food for, give food to, maintain the health of, keep in health, nurture, supply food for, nurse; see also provide 1, support 2.

    Antonyms neglect*, injure*, starve. *

  3. To defend

    befriend, favor, stand by, support, comfort, side with*, back up*, stand up for*; see also defend 3,

    Antonyms oppose*, hinder*, forsake. See syn. study at support.support.

sustain Law Definition

v

To support or adequately maintain over a long period of time; (in court) to uphold; to rule in favor of; to corroborate. See also overrule.
sustain Usage Examples

Object

  • injury: Scott was thrown out, sustaining slight injuries to the ankle.
  • fracture: He fell from his horse and sustained a compound fracture of his tibia.
  • momentum: It is important that we now sustain the momentum behind this initiative.
  • damage: Causes of head injury: Damage sustained during a fall.
  • casualty: Even so, they launched an attack at the enemy sustaining heavy casualties in doing so.

Subject

  • prayer: Their courage was primarily moral courage, and in many it was sustained by prayer and the example of Jesus Christ.
  • employe: Employers ' liability Protection for employers against bodily injury sustained by employees.

Preposition: as

  • result: Who should pay for the injuries sustained as a result of sport?

Preposition: over

  • period: There may be individual weeks when the 48-hour limit will be exceeded, but this is unlikely to be sustained over a 17-week period.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • due: Both of these incidents had involved HGV drivers sustaining head injuries due to a faulty loading lift.

Modifying Another Word

  • thereby: That same Being governs the world and thereby sustains the order.
  • thus: Low tax economies can thus sustain better services, and higher levels of spending, than high tax economies.

Used with why or when

  • when: He understands, He ministers, He sustains when both our circumstances without and our feelings within are at zero.

Present participle complement

  • climb: It's A Sin ( 7a+ ) * sustained climbing once the first BR of six is clipped.

Preposition: in

  • accident: He died at the scene, from injuries sustained in the motor accident.
  • crash: An example of this would be a crush injury to the chest such as may be sustained in a car crash.
  • battle: He was feted by the populace, including Emma who also ministered to the wounds he had sustained in the Battle.

Preposition: by

  • prayer: Their courage was primarily moral courage, and in many it was sustained by prayer and the example of Jesus Christ.
  • employe: Employers ' liability Protection for employers against bodily injury sustained by employees.