sustained

1 of 2

adjective

sus·​tained sə-ˈstānd How to pronounce sustained (audio)
Synonyms of sustained
: maintained at length without interruption or weakening : lasting, prolonged
sustained winds
providing sustained support
sustained applause
sustained flight
They can run at sustained speeds of up to 19 mph for considerable distances, and usually only make short flights in order to escape danger or flush prey.—Marcy Scott
This degenerative disorder is theoretically caused by excessive and sustained forces of compression.—Tracy A. Turner

sustained

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of sustain entry 1

Examples of sustained in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Projects must demonstrate more than sustained fusion conditions. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 The storm was about 400 miles southwest of Manzanillo with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving northwest. — Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane's maximum sustained wind speed, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Across the board, growth has eased from stronger rates recorded earlier in the year, pointing to sustained expansion with less momentum. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustained

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sustained was in 1775

Phrases Containing sustained

Rhymes for sustained

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Browse Nearby Words

sustainable
sustained
sustained-release
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Cite this Entry

“Sustained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustained. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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