Question

sustain

Accepted Answer

sus‧tain W3 AC /səˈsteɪn/ verb [transitive]
1make something continue to make something continue to exist or happen for a period of time SYN maintain:
She found it difficult to sustain the children’s interest.
He was incapable of sustaining close relationships with women.
the policies necessary to sustain economic growth → sustained
2suffer formal to suffer damage, an injury, or loss of money:
Two of the firefighters sustained serious injuries.
Some nearby buildings sustained minor damage.
The company has sustained heavy financial losses this year.
3food/drink formal if food or drink sustains a person, animal, or plant, it makes them able to continue living → sustenance:
They gave me barely enough food to sustain me.
4give strength formal to make someone feel strong and hopeful:
The thought of seeing her again was all that sustained me.
5weight formal to hold up the weight of something SYN support:
He leant against her so heavily that she could barely sustain his weight.
6idea formal to support an idea or argument, or prove that it is right:
This argument is difficult to sustain.

Sustained Formal Sustain Continue Make Syn Difficult Food