Definition of sustenance
1a : means of support, maintenance, or subsistence : livingb : food, provisions; also : nourishment
2a : the act of sustaining : the state of being sustainedb : a supplying or being supplied with the necessaries of life
3 : something that gives support, endurance, or strength
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Examples of sustenance in a Sentence
Tree bark provides deer with sustenance in periods of drought.
The village depends on the sea for sustenance.
She draws spiritual sustenance from daily church attendance.
Recent Examples of sustenance from the Web
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Prepared correctly, and with a little finesse and theater, blood can become not just sustenance but a culinary experience.
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Even before 1939, Franaszek shows, he was obsessed with the idea of the poet’s responsibility—his duty to write in a way that not only was beautiful and true but also offered sustenance.
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California Indians rarely go past Panther Meadow, about a 2-mile hike from Bunny Flat, for their spiritual sustenance.
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The inflated sea urchin populations then fed on shallow-water kelp unhindered, and since Steller’s sea cow relied upon kelp for sustenance their decline may have been at least partly caused by these changes.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sustenance'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of sustenance
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from sustenir
SUSTENANCE Defined for English Language Learners
sustenance
playDefinition of sustenance for English Language Learners
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: something (such as food) that keeps someone or something alive
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: something that gives support, help, or strength
SUSTENANCE Defined for Kids
sustenance
playDefinition of sustenance for Students
1 : 2living 3, subsistence
2 : the act of supplying with the necessities of life
3 : 2support 2 God is our sustenance in time of trouble.
Learn More about sustenance
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sustenance Spanish Central: Translation of sustenance Nglish: Translation of sustenance for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sustenance for Arabic speakers
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