sustain

¹sus·tain

verb \sə-ˈstān\

Definition of SUSTAIN

transitive verb

1

: to give support or relief to

2

: to supply with sustenance : nourish

3

: keep up, prolong

4

: to support the weight of : prop; also : to carry or withstand (a weight or pressure)

5

: to buoy up <sustained by hope>

6

a : to bear up under b : suffer, undergo <sustained heavy losses>

7

a : to support as true, legal, or just b : to allow or admit as valid <the court sustained the motion>

8

: to support by adequate proof : confirm <testimony that sustains our contention>

— sus·tained·ly \-ˈstā-nəd-lē, -ˈstānd-lē\ adverb

— sus·tain·er noun

Examples of SUSTAIN

1. Hope sustained us during that difficult time.
2. The roof, unable to sustain the weight of all the snow, collapsed.
3. The army sustained heavy losses.
4. He sustained serious injuries in the accident.

Origin of SUSTAIN

Middle English sustenen, from Anglo-French sustein-, stem of sustenir, from Latin sustinēre to hold up, sustain, from sub-, sus- up + tenēre to hold — more at sub-, thin

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SUSTAIN

Synonyms: nourish, nurture

Related Words: sate, satiate, satisfy; nurse, suckle; cloy, fill, surfeit; fortify, replenish, strengthen; feed; board, cater, provision, victual

Near Antonyms: decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down; combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist; avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

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