adj
Common
sustained
suh-STAYND
Sustained (adj) means Kept going continuously over a period of time, without dropping off. Example: “Young plants need sustained sunlight over several weeks to grow strong.”
adj
1
Kept going continuously over a period of time, without dropping off.
"Young plants need sustained sunlight over several weeks to grow strong."
"The economy showed sustained growth over five years."
"She gave a sustained, powerful performance throughout the concert."
How to use sustained
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKept up steadily over time, rather than in a short burst.
Common pairings
sustained growth
sustained effort
sustained applause
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more sustained
- Superlative
- most sustained
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Young plants need _____ sunlight over several weeks to grow strong.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for sustained
See all rhymes for sustained →Frequently asked questions
What does “sustained” mean?
The word “sustained” means kept going continuously over a period of time, without dropping off. In plain terms, kept up steadily over time, rather than in a short burst.
How do you pronounce “sustained”?
“Sustained” is pronounced suh-STAYND (/səˈsteɪnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “sustained” in a sentence?
Here is “sustained” used in a sentence: “The economy showed sustained growth over five years.”
What is another word for “sustained”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sustained” include constant, continuous and steady.
What part of speech is “sustained”?
“Sustained” is an adjective.
Is “sustained” a common word?
“Sustained” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "sustained" and "sustainable"?
"Sustained" describes something kept going continuously over a period without dropping off, as in sustained effort. "Sustainable" describes something able to be maintained long-term without depleting resources, so "sustained" is about what has continued while "sustainable" is about what could continue.
When should you use "sustained" instead of "continuous"?
"Sustained" stresses that effort or intensity has been actively kept up without weakening, as in a sustained campaign. "Continuous" simply means unbroken in time, so "sustained" adds a sense of maintained strength rather than just uninterrupted duration.
What words commonly go with "sustained"?
"Sustained" often pairs with effort, growth, applause, attack, and pressure. These collocations describe activity that continues at a steady level over time without falling away.
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