sustain
Usage
What are other ways to say sustain?
To sustain, a rather elevated word, suggests completeness and adequacy in supporting: The court sustained his claim. To support is to hold up or add strength to, literally or figuratively: The columns support the roof. To maintain is to support so as to preserve intact: to maintain an attitude of defiance. Uphold applies especially to supporting or backing another, as in a statement, opinion, or belief: to uphold the rights of a minority.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Even the bump in realizations hasn’t been enough to sustain fundraising activity.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Profits from King Cotton helped sustain the growth of Northern insurance, banking, shipping and textile firms, and flowed indirectly into the dynamic development of railroads, iron manufacture and other modern industries.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
No one needed his blessing to enter the race, or his backing to sustain their candidacy.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
Swinney said the support depended on the manufacturer being able to show it had enough orders to sustain operations in Scotland.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
I glare at him for a moment, but I can’t sustain it, not with him grinning at me like that.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
