sustained

1 of 2

adjective

sus·​tained sə-ˈstānd How to pronounce sustained (audio)
Synonyms of sustained
: 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

sustained

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of sustain entry 1

Examples of sustained in a Sentence

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Adjective
The Category 2 storm had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph) and was moving northwest at 8 mph (13 kph). — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 So while the demonstration was extraordinary, the Roadster's brief airborne maneuvers are a long way from sustained flight like an airplane. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 These results suggest the alloy’s changing surface can support sustained activity, addressing the difficulty of improving catalytic performance without compromising stability. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 Strong north winds will continue throughout much of the day, with sustained speeds of 20–30 mph and peak gusts of 40–45 mph. — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustained

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1775, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sustained was in 1775

Phrases Containing sustained

Rhymes for sustained

See All Rhymes for sustained

Browse Nearby Words

sustainable
sustained
sustained-release
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Cite this Entry

“Sustained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustained. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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