sustained

adjective

sus·​tained sə-ˈstānd How to pronounce sustained (audio)
: 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
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Key Facts Erin became a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, the center said at 11 a.m. EDT. Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Forecasters said maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph with higher gusts and that steady strengthening is expected during the next few days. Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025 The system, now packing sustained winds of 75 mph, was located roughly 460 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands and moving west-northwest at 18 mph. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025 Erin strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph on Friday morning more than 400 miles east of the northeastern Caribbean’s Leeward Islands, according to the National Hurricane Center. Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sustained

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sustained was in 1775

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Cite this Entry

“Sustained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustained. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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