sustain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb lengthen or extend in duration or space
    prolong; keep up.
    • We sustained the diplomatic negotiations as long as possible
    • prolong the treatment of the patient
    • keep up the good work
  2. verb undergo (as of injuries and illnesses)
    suffer; have; get.
    • She suffered a fracture in the accident
    • He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars
    • She got a bruise on her leg
    • He got his arm broken in the scuffle
  3. verb provide with nourishment
    nurture; nourish.
    • We sustained ourselves on bread and water
    • This kind of food is not nourishing for young children
  4. verb supply with necessities and support
    maintain; keep.
    • She alone sustained her family
    • The money will sustain our good cause
    • There's little to earn and many to keep
  5. verb be the physical support of; carry the weight of
    support; hold; hold up.
    • The beam holds up the roof
    • He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
    • What's holding that mirror?
  6. verb admit as valid
    • The court sustained the motion
  7. verb establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
    affirm; substantiate; support; confirm; corroborate.
    • his story confirmed my doubts
    • The evidence supports the defendant

WordNet

Sus*tain" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. sustenen, susteinen, OF. sustenir, sostenir, F. soutenir (the French prefix is properly fr. L. subtus below, fr. sub under), L. sustinere; pref. sus- (see Sub-) + tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf. Sustenance.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Sustained ; present participle & verbal noun Sustaining
Definitions
  1. To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support; as, a foundation sustains the superstructure; a beast sustains a load; a rope sustains a weight.
    Every pillar the temple to sustain. Chaucer.
  2. Hence, to keep from sinking, as in despondence, or the like; to support.
    No comfortable expectations of another life to sustain him under the evils in this world. Tillotson.
  3. To maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to nourish; as, provisions to sustain an army.
  4. To aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate. Shak.
    His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain. Dryden.
  5. To endure without failing or yielding; to bear up under; as, to sustain defeat and disappointment.
  6. To suffer; to bear; to undergo.
    Shall Turnus, then, such endless toil sustain? Dryden.
    You shall sustain more new disgraces. Shak.
  7. To allow the prosecution of; to admit as valid; to sanction; to continue; not to dismiss or abate; as, the court sustained the action or suit.
  8. To prove; to establish by evidence; to corroborate or confirm; to be conclusive of; as, to sustain a charge, an accusation, or a proposition. Syn. -- To support; uphold; subsist; assist; relieve; suffer; undergo.
Sus*tain" noun
Definitions
  1. One who, or that which, upholds or sustains; a sustainer. Obs.
    I waked again, for my sustain was the Lord. Milton.

Webster 1913