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sustain

sus·tain

sustain

 
 
pronunciation:
s steIn
features:
Word Combinations (verb), Word Parts
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: sustains, sustaining, sustained
definition 1: to provide with the basic necessities of life.
They don't earn enough money from these jobs to sustain themselves and their families.
 
synonyms:
support
similar words:
care for, foster, maintain, nourish, nurse, nurture, provide for, take care of, tend
definition 2: to keep (something) going or existing.
Continued donations sustained the project.I could no longer sustain my interest in the conversation.
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synonyms:
maintain
similar words:
carry, continue, nourish, preserve, prolong
definition 3: to support.
Donations sustain the work of our charity.
synonyms:
support
similar words:
bankroll, buttress, finance, fortify, fund, maintain, nourish, subsidize, take care of, underwrite
definition 4: to keep up the spirits of; encourage.
He sustained her through the crisis.
synonyms:
encourage, hearten, support
similar words:
bolster, buck up, buoy up, buttress, fortify, inspirit
definition 5: to endure.
I refuse to sustain this unfair treatment any longer.
synonyms:
bear, endure, undergo
similar words:
abide, brave, brook, support, survive, tolerate, weather, withstand
definition 6: to suffer (loss or damage); undergo.
He sustained injuries to his neck and spine.The town sustained a great amount of damage during the storm.
synonyms:
suffer, undergo
similar words:
experience, receive
definition 7: to uphold the validity or correctness of.
The judge sustained the objection by the defense.
similar words:
authorize, ratify, sanction, warrant
definition 8: to confirm; prove; corroborate.
The evidence will sustain my opinion.
synonyms:
confirm, corroborate, prove, validate, verify
similar words:
authenticate, certify, establish, fortify, justify, ratify, substantiate, vindicate
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: sustainable (adj.), sustainingly (adv.), sustainment (n.)
Word PartsSubscriber feature About this feature