sustain
To maintain something at a consistent level over a period of time; to keep going.
Examples
In a meeting
“We can't sustain this pace of delivery without hiring more engineers.”
Over coffee
“It's hard to sustain a conversation with someone who only gives one-word answers.”
Why this word
maintain
Sustain implies actively supporting something against forces that would end it, while maintain suggests keeping things as they are with less emphasis on opposition
support
Sustain conveys continuous nourishment or upholding over time, while support is broader and doesn't necessarily imply ongoing endurance
keep
Sustain emphasizes providing what's needed for continuation through difficulty, while keep is vaguer about the effort involved
Usage tip
Implies effort to maintain — things don't sustain themselves. Common with growth, momentum, effort, and interest.
Etymology
Latin sustinere — sub (from below) + tenere (to hold), literally 'to hold up from beneath'
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Related words
arduous
Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring
perpetuate
To cause something to continue indefinitely
broach
To bring up or introduce a topic for discussion
streamline
To make a process or system more efficient by simplifying or eliminating unnecessary steps.
delegate
To assign a task or responsibility to someone else.
validate
To confirm that something is correct, sound, or meets requirements.