sustain
To maintain, or keep in existence.
Verb 4 meanings
To maintain, or keep in existence.
“The professor had trouble sustaining students’ interest until the end of her lectures.”
To provide for or nourish.
“provisions to sustain an army”
To encourage or sanction (something).
To experience or suffer (an injury, etc.).
“The building sustained major damage in the earthquake.”
Noun 1 meaning
A mechanism which can be used to hold a note, as the right pedal on a piano.
Etymology
From Middle English susteinen, sustenen, from Old French sustenir (French soutenir), from Latin sustineō, sustinēre (“to uphold”), from sub- (“from below, up”) + teneō (“hold”, verb).
Similar and opposite words
SUSTAIN at a glance
SUSTAIN has 7 letters and scores 7 points in Scrabble (S 1 + U 1 + S 1 + T 1 + A 1 + I 1 + N 1) and 9 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #7,865 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with sustain
All rhymesKeep going
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