Showing results for "sustained"

• past participle of sustain.
• past tense form of sustain.

sustained

American  

[suh-steynd] / səˈsteɪnd /

adjective

1. kept in process or continued over time; continuous.

   National budgets need to reflect a sustained commitment to children's positive development, strong families, and caring communities.

2. (of an injury, cost, etc.) borne, experienced, or suffered.

   Homeowner’s insurance is not available to cover sustained losses from a radiological accident.

3. upheld or confirmed as valid.

   Nothing smacks more of courtroom defeat than ending a cross-examination on a sustained objection.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of sustain.

Other Word Forms

• nonsustained
  adjective
• presustained
  adjective
• unsustained
  adjective
• well-sustained
  adjective
• sustainedly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of sustained

sustain ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

Something that's sustained is held or maintained for a long time, keeping its strength or level consistent and unbroken. A singer's sustained note goes on and on, and a judge's sustained ruling continues to be upheld. The adjective sustained, which describes something that goes on uninterrupted for a long time, comes from the Latin word sustinere, "to hold up, support, or endure." Something sustained can be either good or bad: a sustained conflict is never good, but a sustained peace is something to be fought for.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sustained

Although Yabloko had been struck off the party list, around 100 of its candidates remained in individual constituency races, although the party continued to face sustained pressure.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

The volcano's sustained explosive activity weakened on September 6, although Anak Krakatau continued to rumble.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

The majority of pilots were pushed into lower-paying positions and sustained cuts to hourly rates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Hopeful return: Third baseman Nolan Arenado suffered an injury to his left thumb Tuesday, the same injury he sustained in late August.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

Even being lied to constantly, though hardly like love, was sustained attention; he must care about her to fabricate so elaborately and over such a long stretch of time.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

• constant
• continued
• continuous
• uninterrupted