sustained

[suh-steynd]

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.

verb

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sustained¹

sustain ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Related Words

• constant 
• continued 
• continuous 
• uninterrupted