sustained

1 of 2

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

sustained

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of sustain entry 1

Examples of sustained in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The air-breathing engine then takes over and provides sustained propulsion. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026

Polo, a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 mph, is on track to make landfall in Baja California Sur on Monday, unleashing heavy rains and flooding there. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

Ukraine hit two refineries as part of its sustained campaign to damage Russia's economy, Zelenskyy said. — Hanna Arhirova, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026

However, a sustained decline in oil could help ease some of the pressure on inflation and rates. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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