Definitions for sustain
səˈsteɪnsus·tain

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. prolong, sustain, keep up(verb)

   lengthen or extend in duration or space

   "We sustained the diplomatic negotiations as long as possible"; "prolong the treatment of the patient"; "keep up the good work"

2. suffer, sustain, have, get(verb)

   undergo (as of injuries and illnesses)

   "She suffered a fracture in the accident"; "He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars"; "She got a bruise on her leg"; "He got his arm broken in the scuffle"

3. nourish, nurture, sustain(verb)

   provide with nourishment

   "We sustained ourselves on bread and water"; "This kind of food is not nourishing for young children"

4. sustain, keep, maintain(verb)

   supply with necessities and support

   "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep"

5. hold, support, sustain, hold up(verb)

   be the physical support of; carry the weight of

   "The beam holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?"

6. sustain(verb)

   admit as valid

   "The court sustained the motion"

7. confirm, corroborate, sustain, substantiate, support, affirm(verb)

   establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts

   "his story confirmed my doubts"; "The evidence supports the defendant"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. sustain(Noun)

   A mechanism which can be used to hold a note, as the right pedal on a piano.

   Etymology: From sustenir (French: soutenir), from sustineo, from sub- + teneo.

2. sustain(Verb)

   To maintain (something), or keep it in existence.

   Etymology: From sustenir (French: soutenir), from sustineo, from sub- + teneo.

3. sustain(Verb)

   To provide for or nourish (something).

   Etymology: From sustenir (French: soutenir), from sustineo, from sub- + teneo.

4. sustain(Verb)

   To encourage (something).

   Etymology: From sustenir (French: soutenir), from sustineo, from sub- + teneo.

5. sustain(Verb)

   To experience or suffer (an injury, etc.).

   Etymology: From sustenir (French: soutenir), from sustineo, from sub- + teneo.

6. sustain(Verb)

   To confirm, prove, or corroborate (something).

   Etymology: From sustenir (French: soutenir), from sustineo, from sub- + teneo.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Sustain(verb)

   to keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support; as, a foundation sustains the superstructure; a beast sustains a load; a rope sustains a weight

2. Sustain(verb)

   hence, to keep from sinking, as in despondence, or the like; to support

3. Sustain(verb)

   to maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to nourish; as, provisions to sustain an army

4. Sustain(verb)

   to aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate

5. Sustain(verb)

   to endure without failing or yielding; to bear up under; as, to sustain defeat and disappointment

6. Sustain(verb)

   to suffer; to bear; to undergo

7. Sustain(verb)

   to allow the prosecution of; to admit as valid; to sanction; to continue; not to dismiss or abate; as, the court sustained the action or suit

8. Sustain(verb)

   to prove; to establish by evidence; to corroborate or confirm; to be conclusive of; as, to sustain a charge, an accusation, or a proposition

9. Sustain(noun)

   one who, or that which, upholds or sustains; a sustainer

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Sustain

   In music, sustain is a parameter of musical sound over time. As its name implies, it denotes the period of time during which the sound remains before it becomes inaudible, or silent. Additionally, sustain is the third of the four segments in an ADSR envelope. The sustain portion of the ADSR envelope begins when the attack and decay portions have run their course, and continues until the key is released. The sustain control is used to determine the level at which the envelope will remain. While the attack, decay, and release controls are rate or time controls, the sustain control is a level control.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Sustain

   sus-tān′, v.t. to hold up: to bear: to maintain: to relieve: to prove: to sanction: to prolong.—adjs. Sustain′able, that may be sustained; Sustained′, kept up at one uniform pitch.—ns. Sustain′er, one who, or that which, sustains; Sustain′ment, act of sustaining, sustenance; Sus′tenance, that which sustains: maintenance: provisions.—adj. Sustentac′ular, supporting, pertaining to a Sustentac′ulum, a support or sustaining tissue, esp. an inferior spine of the tarsus in spiders of the genus Epeira.—v.t. Sus′tentāte, to sustain.—n. Sustentā′tion, that which sustains: support: maintenance.—adj. Susten′tative, sustaining.—ns. Sus′tentātor, a sustaining part or structure; Susten′tion, the act of sustaining; Susten′tor, one of two posterior projections of a butterfly-chrysalis.—Sustentation Fund, the scheme by which the ministers of the Free Church of Scotland are supported by voluntary contributions not local or congregational, but with a national altruism or solidarity paid into a great central fund, out of which equal stipends are paid to all alike. [L. sustinēre—sub, up, tenēre, to hold.]

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. sustain

   To sustain is to aid, succor, or support, any body of men in action or defense.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. sustain

   At a moderate level with a specific, accurate, moderate and sufficient amount or number and ensuring the action is mindful and fair to the environment or planet.

   They did sustain their business easily and efficiently.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 13, 2020  

2. sustain

   To provide or supply a moderate amount that is fair and just and in order of priority.

   Their income from both their forms of employment can sustain their lifestyle and they are grateful.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 13, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'sustain' in Verbs Frequency: #578

Anagrams for sustain »

1. issuant

How to pronounce sustain?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say sustain in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of sustain in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of sustain in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of sustain in a Sentence

1. Karla Ivankovich:

   Rather than address that, many will start arguments to avoid sex, they became anxious and depressed, which only exacerbates the inability to achieve or sustain an erection.

2. Babu Ram Saini:

   We grow rice because that is what sells, productivity for lentils is so low that we'll not be able to sustain ourselves without massive government support.

3. Dr Arnold:

   This involves searching out or only paying attention to information that supports a belief, for example, the confirmation bias may sustain people’s belief in an apocalyptic prophecy because they start to focus on events, information, et cetera that seem to corroborate the prophecy.

4. Pope Francis:

   Especially in these days, may he sustain the efforts of all those actively engaged in bringing comfort and relief to the civil population in Syria, prey to a war that continues to sow horror and death. And yesterday, the latest despicable attack on refugees which caused a number of deaths and injuries.

5. Nina Turner:

   Bernie Sanders is not just trying to win the race, Bernie Sanders is trying to create a revolution, there's a difference between, as somebody put it, pushing regulations and creating a revolution. And the revolution says that I want to bring millions and millions of people with me so that movement can sustain itself beyond the candidate.

Images & Illustrations of sustain

Popularity rank by frequency of use