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.

---

verb

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

Other Word Forms

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

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

While trying to use his bear spray canister, he sustained “significant but not life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm,” according to officials.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

But she will endure, she knows, sustained by the enduring memories of Miranda and the mutual love they shared.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

That means short interest is growing faster than active long interest, “reflecting a sustained deterioration in positioning balance,” Unterman wrote.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

Wolves had an upturn in form for a while under Rob Edwards but it doesn't feel like they have sustained that improvement.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

From time to time she persuaded herself she remained for Briony’s sake, or to help her mother, or because this really was her last sustained period at home and she would see it through.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

• constant
• continued
• continuous
• uninterrupted