"The community worked tirelessly to sustain their local library against funding cuts."
In plain English: To sustain means to keep something going for as long as possible without letting it stop or fail.
"The strong wind was not enough to sustain the small flame, so it quickly went out."
Usage: Use sustain when you mean to continue supporting something over time rather than simply maintaining its current state without effort. This verb often applies to keeping systems alive, prolonging sounds like musical notes, or upholding principles during difficult periods.
Example Sentences
"The government announced plans to sustain existing welfare programs for another year."noun
"The old rope lacked the strength to sustain the heavy load."noun
"She hoped her energy would not be enough to sustain her through the long hike."noun
"There was no evidence that his theory could sustain the weight of scientific proof."noun
"The strong wind was not enough to sustain the small flame, so it quickly went out."verb
The word "sustain" comes from the Middle English susten and Old French soutenir, which originally meant to hold something up from below. It entered English with this literal sense of supporting or maintaining, derived directly from Latin roots for holding beneath.