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. )

Example Sentences

Secular stagnation, a damaging balance sheet reset, and sustained inflation are all in play.

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Even in the face of competition, U.S.-listed shares of Alibaba have been on a tear, benefitting from sustained enthusiasm for artificial intelligence.

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Both briefly traded at or near record highs together in 2007 and in 2020, but nothing like the sustained climb seen over the past several months.

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On Saturday the pair powered through a sustained shower of razz from the grandstands at the Ryder Cup on New York’s Long Island.

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The WTO’s economists also said trade flows could be stronger than forecast if the surge in trade in AI-related goods were to be sustained.

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Related Words

• constant 
• continued 
• continuous 
• uninterrupted