sustain

//səˈsteɪn//
B2Frequency Level 8Formal
Visual representation of sustain

Verb

sustainInfinitive
sustainPresent tense
sustainedPast tense
sustainedPast participle
sustainingPresent participle
sustainsThird-person singular
1

to cause or allow something to continue for a period of time

The company needs to sustain its growth over the next five years.

2

to provide someone or something with food, drink, or other necessities to keep them alive or in existence

The crops sustained the village through the long winter.

3

to support the weight of something physically

The wooden beams sustain the weight of the roof.

4

to experience or suffer something unpleasant, especially an injury

He sustained serious injuries in the accident.

5

to uphold, affirm, or confirm the validity of something, especially a legal decision

The court sustained the objection raised by the defense attorney.