verb · neutral
sustain
/səˈsteɪn/sus·TAIN
to keep something going over time; to suffer (an injury) or to provide support so something continues
Examples
“The region could not sustain agricultural production without reliable rainfall.”
“He sustained a concussion during the match and was taken off immediately.”
“Policies aimed at sustaining long-term economic growth need careful planning.”
Band 8 sentence
“To sustain economic development without harming the environment, policymakers must prioritise investments in renewable energy and efficient infrastructure.”
Collocations
- sustain + growth / sustain + development
- sustain an injury / sustain damage
- sustainable development (adj form)
Word family
Common mistakes
sustainable→sustain
maintain (in contexts like 'sustain an injury')→sustain
Say it for a higher band
5keep→6maintain→7+sustain
Synonyms
maintain
preserve
Easily confused
maintain
“The old machine is maintained regularly to keep it working.”
Related words
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In Sublist 10
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