sustained

adjective

sus·​tained sə-ˈstānd 

: 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

Examples of sustained in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ha secured the title with a final round completed in just 31 seconds, capping off a competition defined by speed, precision, and sustained focus. —Tracy Yochum, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026

Belu-Simion Fainaru, the artist set to represent Israel at the Sixty-First Venice Biennale, has issued a reply to the participating artists and curators demanding the country’s exclusion over its sustained bombing of Gaza. —News Desk, Artforum, 6 Apr. 2026

Did the artist use care, skill, and sustained effort when designing their flag? —Jj Hensley, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026

The sustained performance demonstrates exceptional hold and continued audience demand across India and international territories. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sustained

• self-sustained
• sustained-release
• sustained yield

Rhymes for sustained

• appertained
• ascertained
• entertained
• overstrained
• preordained
• unconstrained
• unexplained
• unrestrained
• abstained
• arraigned
• attained
• bloodstained