sustainverb [ T ]
uk/səˈsteɪn/us/səˈsteɪn/sustain verb [ T ] (CONTINUE)
C2 to cause or allow something to continue for a period of time:
The economy looks set to sustain its growth into next year.
He seems to find it difficult to sustain relationships with women.
US The judge sustained (= accepted) the lawyer's objection.
C2 to keep alive:
The soil in this part of the world is not rich enough to sustain a large population.
More examples
- It proved particularly difficult to sustain the interest of the older children.
- This year's harvest is insufficient to sustain a growing population.
- Economic growth cannot be sustained without a rise in inflation.
- This planet is unable to sustain human or plant life.
- The team were finally victorious after a sustained effort to succeed.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Preserving and saving
- a knight in shining armour idiom
- conserve
- deliver
- guardian angel
- keep
- keep sth up
- knight
- life-saver
- lifeguard
- maintain
- reclaim
- recyclable
- salvage
- salvation
- save
- save sb's bacon/neck idiom
- save your own skin/hide idiom
- saved by the bell idiom
- saviour
- spare
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sustain verb [ T ] (SUFFER)
formal to suffer or experience, especially damage or loss:
She sustained multiple injuries in the accident.
Most buildings sustained only minimal damage in the earthquake.
The company has sustained heavy losses this year.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Experiencing and suffering
- afflict
- affliction
- almost/nearly die of sth idiom
- be a martyr to sth idiom
- be a victim of your own success idiom
- be devoured by sth idiom
- get the short end of the stick idiom
- get/have your fingers burned idiom
- go through sth
- grip
- hands-on
- hold
- ride
- sample
- seat
- sense
- undergo
- underwent
- ups and downs
- writhe
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sustain verb [ T ] (SUPPORT)
to support emotionally:
She was sustained by the strength of her religious faith.
The love of my family and friends sustained me through my ordeal.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Backing, supporting & defending
- -backed
- argumentation
- bale
- bale out
- bear
- behind every great/successful man there stands a woman idiom
- buttress
- carry
- defensible
- endorse
- espouse
- fight your corner idiom
- speak
- stake
- stand by sb
- stand by sth
- stand shoulder to shoulder with sb idiom
- strike
- sympathize
- sympathy
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