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sustain

verb
 OPAL W
🔊/səˈsteɪn/
🔊/səˈsteɪn/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they sustain
🔊/səˈsteɪn/
🔊/səˈsteɪn/
he / she / it sustains
🔊/səˈsteɪnz/
🔊/səˈsteɪnz/
past simple sustained
🔊/səˈsteɪnd/
🔊/səˈsteɪnd/
past participle sustained
🔊/səˈsteɪnd/
🔊/səˈsteɪnd/
-ing form sustaining
🔊/səˈsteɪnɪŋ/
🔊/səˈsteɪnɪŋ/
jump to other results
  1.  
    sustain somebody/something to provide enough of what somebody/something needs in order to live or exist维持（生命、生存）
    • Which planets can sustain life?哪些行星可以维持生命的存在？🔊🔊
    • I only had a little chocolate to sustain me on my walk.我只有一点巧克力来维持我的行走。
    • The love and support of his family sustained him during his time in prison.家人的关爱和支持帮助他度过了狱中的岁月。🔊🔊
    • When she lost her job they could no longer sustain their expensive lifestyle.当她失业后，他们再也无法维持昂贵的生活方式。
    • The soil was so badly eroded it could no longer sustain crop production.土壤侵蚀得厉害，不能再种庄稼了。
  2.  
    sustain something to make something continue for some time without becoming less使保持；使稳定持续 synonym maintain
    • She managed to sustain everyone's interest until the end of her speech.她使每个人兴趣盎然，一直听她把话讲完。🔊🔊
    • Kangaroos can sustain high speeds over long distances.袋鼠可以长距离保持高速。
    • the sustaining pedal of a piano (= that allows a note to continue sounding for a long time)钢琴的延音踏板
    • This relationship would be very difficult to sustain.这一关系会难以为继。
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • no longer
    • barely
    • indefinitely
    • …
    verb + sustain
    • be able to
    • can
    • be unable to
    • …
    See full entry
  3. sustain something (formal) to experience something bad遭受；蒙受；经受 synonym suffer
    • to sustain damage/an injury/a defeat遭受损失；受伤；遭到失败
    • The company sustained losses of millions of dollars.公司遭受了数百万美元计的巨大损失。🔊🔊
    Topics Illnessc2
  4. sustain something to provide evidence to support an opinion, a theory, etc.证明；证实 synonym uphold
    • The evidence is not detailed enough to sustain his argument.这一证据过于笼统，不足以证明他的论点。🔊🔊
    Topics Opinion and argumentc2
  5. sustain something (formal) to support a weight without breaking or falling支撑；承受住 synonym bear
    • The ice will not sustain your weight.这冰承受不了你的体重。🔊🔊
  6. sustain something (law法律) to decide that a claim, etc. is true or legally valid 认可；确认；准许；支持synonym uphold
    • The court sustained his claim that the contract was illegal.法庭支持他的主张，认定该合同不合法。🔊🔊
    • Objection sustained! (= said by a judge when a lawyer makes an objection in court)反对有效！🔊🔊
    7. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French soustenir, from Latin sustinere, from sub- ‘from below’ + tenere ‘hold’.