sustain

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /səˈstæɪn/ UK /səˈsteɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #10443

Meanings

1

verb
To keep something going or in existence over time.

The professor had trouble sustaining the students' interest until the end of the lecture.
2

verb
To suffer or experience something bad, such as an injury or damage.

The building sustained major damage in the earthquake.
3

verb
To provide someone with the food and support they need to stay alive.

They sustained themselves on bread and water for a week.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to keep something going or... keep up

3 verb · to provide someone with the... nurture nourish

Word family

Forms sustainedsustainingsustainsunsustained

Derived forms self-sustainingsustainablesustainedlysustaining

Etymology

From Middle English susteinen, sustenen, from Old French sustenir (French soutenir), from Latin sustineō, sustinēre (“to uphold”), from sub- (“from below, up”) + teneō (“hold”, verb).

*ten- Proto-Indo-European susteinen Middle English sustenir Old French sustineō Latin

View etymology graph ->

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# sustain

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /səˈstæɪn/
**IPA (UK):** /səˈsteɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 10443

## Meanings
1. To keep something going or in existence over time.
2. To suffer or experience something bad, such as an injury or damage.
3. To provide someone with the food and support they need to stay alive.

## Examples
- The professor had trouble sustaining the students' interest until the end of the lecture.
- The building sustained major damage in the earthquake.
- They sustained themselves on bread and water for a week.

## Derived Forms
- self-sustaining
- sustainable
- sustainedly
- sustaining

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ten-
- Root: susteinen
- Root: sustenir
- Root: sustineō

## Etymology
From Middle English susteinen, sustenen, from Old French sustenir (French soutenir), from Latin sustineō, sustinēre (“to uphold”), from sub- (“from below, up”) + teneō (“hold”, verb).

## AI Etymology
Sustain is from Middle English susteinen, sustenen, from Old French sustenir (French soutenir), from Latin sustineō, sustinēre (“to uphold”), from sub- (“from below, up”) + teneō (“hold”, verb). In present-day use, it can mean to keep something going or in existence over time, or to suffer or experience something bad, such as an injury or damage. Derived formations include self-sustaining, sustainable, sustainedly, sustaining.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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sustain

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