English verb: sustain | |||
| 1. | sustain (stative) lengthen or extend in duration or space | ||
| Samples | We sustained the diplomatic negotiations as long as possible. Prolong the treatment of the patient. Keep up the good work. | ||
| Synonyms | keep up, prolong | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | bear on, carry on, continue, preserve, uphold | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | continue, keep, keep on, retain | ||
| 2. | sustain (body) undergo (as of injuries and illnesses) | ||
| Samples | She suffered a fracture in the accident. He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars. She got a bruise on her leg. He got his arm broken in the scuffle. | ||
| Synonyms | get, have, suffer | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | experience, get, have, receive | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | break down, break up, collapse, collapse, crack, crack up, cramp, crock up | ||
| Verb group | have | ||
| 3. | sustain (consumption) provide with nourishment | ||
| Samples | We sustained ourselves on bread and water. This kind of food is not nourishing for young children. | ||
| Synonyms | nourish, nurture | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | cater, ply, provide, supply | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | carry | ||
| 4. | sustain (consumption) supply with necessities and support | ||
| Samples | She alone sustained her family. The money will sustain our good cause. There's little to earn and many to keep. | ||
| Synonyms | keep, maintain | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | have, have got, hold | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | carry, patronage, reseed | ||
| 5. | sustain (contact) be the physical support of; carry the weight of | ||
| Samples | The beam holds up the roof. He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam. What's holding that mirror?. | ||
| Synonyms | hold, hold up, support | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | block, brace, bracket, buoy, buoy up, carry, chock, pole, prop, prop up, scaffold, shore, shore up, truss, underpin | ||
| 6. | sustain (communication) admit as valid | ||
| Samples | The court sustained the motion. | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | acknowledge, admit | ||
| 7. | sustain (cognition) establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts | ||
| Samples | His story confirmed my doubts. The evidence supports the defendant. | ||
| Synonyms | affirm, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, support | ||
| Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something. Somebody ----s that CLAUSE | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | back, back up, demonstrate, document, establish, prove, shew, show, validate, verify, vouch | ||
| Antonyms | negate, contradict | ||