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.
American tanker aircraft helped sustain Israeli operations, and officials from both countries worked closely in planning military actions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
But that’s below the rate of 2.1 children needed to sustain a stable population, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026
“For vendors, it means only those that can adapt their strategies to this new cost environment and sustain demand at elevated price points will survive.”
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
"Korean tattooists had to take risks to do their job to sustain this beautiful underground culture."
From BBC • May 29, 2026
It would have lacked the energy to sustain itself under normal conditions, however, the fission bomb provides it with all the energy it requires to grow and become self-sustaining.
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
Vocabulary lists containing sustain
List 2
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"Joyas Voladoras" by Brian Doyle
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Mother's Day Words: What Mothers Do
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