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

Reports indicate that significant numbers of voters are only now tuning into the campaign as the June primary election approaches, suggesting the race has struggled to maintain sustained engagement or generate early momentum. —Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026

The Sunday haul extends a sustained BAFTA run for Apple TV that includes four wins in 2025 and four more in 2024. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 10 May 2026

Tens of thousands of acres could be restored if political will is matched by sustained investment in local communities. —Anna Lello-Smith, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026

The defining sequence came late, with Dubois stacking accuracy and timing into the kind of sustained assault referees step in to stop. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 9 May 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