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.

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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. )

Example Sentences

A sustained rise in the price of oil is likely to lead to a jump in household energy bills in the UK, when the current cap is reset in July.

From BBC

It also said this would increase pressure on UK households and businesses, particularly if higher energy and mortgage costs were "sustained".

From BBC

Alaska's waters support one of the world's most important salmon fisheries, sustained by complex marine food webs.

From Science Daily

"While higher gas prices can spur interest in electrified vehicles, they typically need to be sustained or more pronounced to drive a meaningful shift," said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds.

From Barron's

Such was the power of conventional wisdom before sustained originalist scholarship was done.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• constant
• continued
• continuous
• uninterrupted