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 Words From

• sus·tain·ed·ly [s, uh, -, stey, -nid-lee, -, steynd, -], adverb
• non·sus·tained adjective
• pre·sus·tained adjective
• un·sus·tained adjective
• well-sus·tained adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sustained¹

sustain ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

By beating incumbent Kevin de León for a City Council seat that stretches from downtown through Boyle Heights and up to Eagle Rock, the 34-year-old sustained the political earthquake she first unleashed in March, when she finished ahead of him and two Latino Assembly members in the primary.

From Los Angeles Times

However, Mr Bailey said the prosecution's case was that Ms Riaz's injuries were caused by "sustained, persistent, deliberate, and intentional application of severe force".

From BBC

Mr Bush sustained a total of 37 stab wounds, which included 13 to the front and side of his neck, eight to the back of his neck, seven to the front of his trunk and eight to the back of his trunk.

From BBC

As explained by the AP, pistachio orchards “can be sustained with minimal water during drought” and their trees “rely on wind instead of bees for pollination and can produce nuts for decades longer.”

From Salon

He was on video assistant referee duty for the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in October 2020 when Virgil van Dijk sustained a season-ending knee injury after a reckless challenge in the area by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford, with no penalty being awarded.

From BBC

Related Words

• constant
• continued
• continuous
• uninterrupted