sustainably

American  

[suh-stey-nuh-blee] / səˈsteɪ nə bli /

adverb

1. in a way that allows for continual use of a natural resource without depleting it or causing environmental damage.

   sustainably grown coffee.

2. in a way that can be sustained in the long term.

   a sustainably profitable business.

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Etymology

Origin of sustainably

First recorded in 1840–45; sustainable ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Professor Bradshaw says societies will need to rethink how land, water, energy, and raw materials are used if future generations are to live safely and sustainably.

From Science Daily • May 27, 2026

The mining company said it had strong relationships with Indigenous peoples in the Pilbara region and that it worked hand in hand with them to manage their cultural heritage "sustainably and responsibly".

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

They also said Forestry England managed the nation's forests, following "world-class, independently certified, sustainable forest and land management standards" to ensure they thrive and provide vital sustainably produced timber.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

“The focus will be squarely on guidance, particularly any shift in tone around the timing of further tightening, confidence in achieving sustainably higher inflation, and tolerance for yen weakness,” StoneX’s Matt Simpson says in commentary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Their long-term existence has not damaged the forest, Meggers told me, a testament to slash-and-burn’s power to keep human groups sustainably within the rigid ecological limits of the tropics.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann