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

That idea of sustained silence haunting relationships and basic interpersonal etiquette is also present in the key relationships of the main storyline. — Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026

Individual pipes are manually added or removed from the organ to change chords, and the sustained sound of the piece is produced through an electric blower system that forces air into the pipes. — News Desk, Artforum, 10 Aug. 2026

Many experience these challenges not as isolated moments, but as a sustained burden. — Simone Lundquist, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Among the poorest older adults, sustained heat was also associated with a higher chance of developing high-impact pain. — Feinuo Sun, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 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