sustain
/səˈsteɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /səˈsteɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /sə-ˈstān/ (ame, mw)
sustain — verb
- sustainpresent simple I / you / we / they
- sustainshe / she / it
- sustainedpast simple
- sustaining-ing form
1. to make something go on happening or stay at the same level without dropping
to make something go on happening or stay at the same level without dropping
The team sustained their lead throughout the second half of the game.
sustain + lead / advantage
Despite the crisis, the company sustained its regular payments to shareholders.
Tariq found it hard to sustain a conversation with so many people talking at once.
The school's music programme was sustained entirely by donations from local families.
Sofie's interest in photography was sustained by her weekly trips to new places.
- stop
general opposite
- discontinue
formal; used in business or official contexts
- drop
informal; suggests a sudden end
文法句型
sustain + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used with abstract nouns such as growth, interest, conversation, effort, or lead. Frequently appears in formal or business contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to give a living thing enough food, water, or other basic things so that it stay
to give a living thing enough food, water, or other basic things so that it stays alive
The refugees had just enough rice and water to sustain them for a few weeks.
sustain + person/group + with necessities
These wide grasslands sustain large herds of wild animals through the dry season.
Gabriel's small vegetable garden helped sustain his family during the long winter.
The river delta sustains a rich variety of birds, fish, and plant life.
文法句型
sustain + person/animal/plant
用法筆記
The subject is typically a food supply, water source, ecosystem, or resource. The object is a living thing or a group.
常見錯誤
3. to experience something painful, harmful, or damaging, such as an injury, a loss
to experience something painful, harmful, or damaging, such as an injury, a loss, or defeat
The company sustained heavy losses during the economic downturn last year.
sustain + losses / damage / injury
Several buildings in the village sustained serious damage in the earthquake.
The player sustained a shoulder injury during the final match of the season.
The senator's reputation sustained lasting damage after the scandal broke.
Beatriz sustained a broken ankle when she slipped on the icy front steps.
- suffer
more general; can be used with or without an object
- undergo
suggests a process or change over time
- experience
neutral; works for positive or negative situations
- avoid
to prevent something bad from happening
文法句型
sustain + damage/loss/injury
用法筆記
Commonly appears with negative nouns: loss, damage, injury, defeat, setback. Not used for positive experiences — you cannot sustain a win or a gift.
常見錯誤
4. to give someone the emotional strength or encouragement needed to get through a
to give someone the emotional strength or encouragement needed to get through a difficult time
Her friends' encouragement sustained Stephanie through the long months of recovery.
sustain + person + through + difficult period
The hope of seeing his family again sustained Cole during his years in prison.
A deep faith in their purpose sustained the volunteers through many setbacks.
The letters from her former students sustained the teacher during her long illness.
- support
more general; covers emotional, practical, and financial help
- encourage
more active; giving direct reassurance
- strengthen
focuses on building inner resilience
- discourage
to take away hope or confidence
- demoralise
to cause a loss of spirit or confidence
文法句型
sustain + person (emotionally)
用法筆記
Often describes how hope, faith, friendship, or encouragement helps someone endure hardship. Frequently used with the preposition through.
5. to hold up the weight of something physically, keeping it from falling or breaki
to hold up the weight of something physically, keeping it from falling or breaking
The old wooden beams can no longer sustain the weight of the heavy roof.
sustain + weight / load / pressure
The bridge was designed to sustain the weight of heavy truck traffic.
Jack tested whether the ice was thick enough to sustain a person's weight.
Steel pillars sustain the upper floors of the skyscraper against strong winds.
- collapse
to fall down under pressure
文法句型
sustain + weight / load / pressure
用法筆記
Typically used for structures, surfaces, and materials. Unlike support, sustain in this sense emphasises that the item does not break or give way under the load.
6. to decide or state that a claim, argument, or legal decision is correct, valid,
to decide or state that a claim, argument, or legal decision is correct, valid, or acceptable
The appeals court sustained the lower court's ruling on the property dispute.
legal: sustain + ruling / objection / appeal
The judge sustained the objection, and the statement was removed from the record.
Saira's lawyer argued that the available evidence was enough to sustain the charges.
The review committee sustained the professor's appeal against the earlier decision.
文法句型
sustain + objection/ruling/claim/argument
用法筆記
Very common in legal language. Courts sustain objections, rulings, appeals, and convictions. In academic or formal settings, evidence or arguments can sustain a theory or position.
常見錯誤
sustain — noun
- sustainsingular
- sustainsplural
1. the quality or effect of a musical note that continues for a long time, or the t
the quality or effect of a musical note that continues for a long time, or the technique used to produce this
The guitarist used a special pedal to give the final note a long, rich sustain.
musical sustain + instrument + pedal
Yuki pressed the piano key and let the sustain ring out for several full seconds.
The cello's sustain filled the concert hall with a deep, warm sound that lingered.
Cole adjusted the amp settings to get a cleaner sustain on his electric guitar.
- resonance
broader; refers to the quality of sound echoing or vibrating
- continuation
general; not specific to music
用法筆記
Used mainly in music discussions about guitar, piano, and other instruments. Often refers to the effect created by a sustain pedal on a piano or a sustain effect on an electric guitar.