sustain

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To sustain something means to keep it going or support it for a long time. Think of it like helping a plant grow by giving it water and sunlight.

You use the word sustain in many everyday situations, like when you talk about keeping a relationship strong through tough times. "We've been married for ten years, and I'm glad we can sustain our love despite everything." You might also hear someone say they're trying to sustain their favorite hobby or activity by finding ways to make it more affordable. For example, "I want to sustain my passion for painting, so I'll be selling some of my art online." The word can also mean supporting a cause or project, like a charity that works to sustain the environment by reducing waste and pollution.

How common is "sustain"?

Word sustain is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

verb

(transitive) To maintain, or keep in existence.
Example: The professor had trouble sustaining students’ interest until the end of her lectures.
(transitive) To provide for or nourish.
Example: provisions to sustain an army
(transitive) To encourage or sanction (something).
(transitive) To experience or suffer (an injury, etc.).
Example: The building sustained major damage in the earthquake.
(transitive) To confirm, prove, or corroborate; to uphold.
Example: to sustain a charge, an accusation, or a proposition
(law, of a judge) To allow, accept, or admit (e.g. an objection or motion) as valid.
To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support.
Example: A foundation sustains the superstructure; an animal sustains a load; a rope sustains a weight.
To aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate.