Environment / C1

s-uh-STAYN/səˈsteɪn/

Sustain means keep something going over time, or bear a weight: sustain a habit, sustain growth, sustain an injury (formal for “suffer”). Native writers contrast sustain with start or boost — the hard part is continuation. Maintain is close for keeping a state; sustain often stresses energy, resources, or duration. Sustainable is the adjective for what can last.

Meaning

To keep something going over time.

Examples

• “It is hard to sustain a daily study habit.”
• “The charity cannot sustain that level of spending.”
• “A single good week will not sustain motivation.”

Good to know

sustain = keep going / bear. maintain = keep in the same state. adjective: sustainable.

Near in meaning

maintain

Topics

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