sustaining

1 of 2

adjective

sus·​tain·​ing sə-ˈstā-niŋ 

1

: serving to sustain

2

: aiding in the support of an organization through a special fee

a sustaining member

sustaining

2 of 2

present participle of sustain entry 1

Examples of sustaining in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

During its epic 25-year run, the annual Street Scene outdoor music festival was a homegrown miracle that blessed attendees with a mix of rock, soul, jazz and world-music that was as rich and sustaining as a cup of steaming gumbo. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2022

The myths of the founding embraced by the Tea Party are perhaps the most sustaining force in the imaginary of the contemporary far right. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 11 Aug. 2021

This marked the first time that such area leaders were presented for a sustaining vote in a pre-General Conference setting. — David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Apr. 2021

What had been most sustaining, a visit to you child, grandchild, or elderly parent, was overnight, declared too dangerous. — Time, 16 Mar. 2021

Of the millions of words written about Gloria Vanderbilt, the fewest have been about her art, the most sustaining and constant thing over her long life. — al, 30 Dec. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1573, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sustaining

• life-sustaining
• self-sustaining

Rhymes for sustaining

• abstaining
• attaining
• campaigning
• complaining
• constraining
• containing
• detaining
• disdaining
• entraining
• explaining
• maintaining
• obtaining