sustained

sustained — adjective

1. happening steadily over a long stretch of time, maintaining the same force or pa

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

happening steadily over a long stretch of time, maintaining the same force or pace — used to describe effort, growth, applause, interest, or any activity that keeps going at a steady level.

Example

The team's sustained effort throughout the season earned them a place in the finals.

sustained + effort — effort that continues over time

Doctors warn that sustained stress can lead to serious health problems over the years.

Common collocations
  • sustained effort
  • sustained growth
  • sustained applause
  • sustained interest
  • sustained pressure
  • sustained attack
  • sustained period
  • sustained campaign
Synonyms
  • continuous

    focuses on unbroken sequence; 'sustained' adds the idea of maintained intensity

  • prolonged

    emphasises that something lasts longer than expected; less focus on steady force

  • steady

    suggests consistency and stability; does not necessarily imply long duration

  • persistent

    used for conditions or problems that refuse to go away; often negative

Antonyms
  • brief

    a very short duration, opposite of prolonged continuity

  • temporary

    lasting only for a limited time, with no expectation of continuation

  • intermittent

    stopping and starting, the opposite of steady continuousness

Grammar Patterns

sustained + noun

be + sustained

Usage Note

Commonly combines with nouns like effort, growth, interest, applause, pressure, and attack. Unlike temporary or brief, this word carries the idea that the thing continues without dropping in force or intensity.

Common Mistakes

The government promotes sustainable economic growth.' (when meaning 'ongoing over time').
The government promotes sustained economic growth.
'sustainable' relates to environmental or long-term ecological viability, while 'sustained' simply means continuing without weakening.

2. showing that a person continues trying hard to achieve something, especially whe

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing that a person continues trying hard to achieve something, especially when facing difficulties or opposition — used about someone's effort, commitment, or determination itself.

Example

Selim's sustained commitment to his studies helped him pass every exam with high marks.

sustained + commitment — persistent dedication despite difficulty

The charity relies on sustained support from local volunteers who give their time each week.

Common collocations
  • sustained commitment
  • sustained attempt
  • sustained support
  • sustained focus
  • sustained determination
  • sustained effort
Synonyms
  • determined

    more general; 'sustained' adds the idea of ongoing effort over time

  • persistent

    similar, but can carry a slightly negative tone for unwelcome things

  • dogged

    suggests stubbornness; more informal and emphatic

  • resolute

    focuses on firmness of purpose rather than the duration of effort

Antonyms
  • half-hearted

    showing little effort or enthusiasm, the opposite of determined

  • waverering

    uncertain or unsteady in effort; the opposite of resolute persistence

Grammar Patterns

sustained + abstract noun (effort, attempt, drive, commitment)

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1 (CONTINUING), which describes events or conditions, this sense describes a person's attitude or actions. It often appears with nouns such as attempt, commitment, effort, focus, and determination. The person is assumed to face obstacles or difficulty.

Common Mistakes

She made a sustainable effort to improve her grades.
She made a sustained effort to improve her grades.
'Sustainable' refers to ecological or long-term viability; 'sustained' here means determined and ongoing.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that lasts, but they differ in implication. Continuous focuses on an unbroken sequence — a continuous line, a continuous supply — with no gaps. Prolonged emphasizes that something lasts longer than usual or expected, often with a negative hint: a prolonged illness, prolonged silence. Steady highlights consistency and lack of fluctuation: steady rain, a steady job — but does not necessarily imply a long duration. Persistent is used especially for things that refuse to go away or stop: a persistent cough, persistent rumors. Sustained combines duration with maintained force or intensity: sustained applause does not just go on — it stays loud; sustained growth does not just last — it keeps its pace. Use sustained when you want to stress that something not only continues but also does not weaken while doing so.

continuous ↗prolongedsteady ↗persistent ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • consistently sustained
  • remarkably sustained

Phrases

  • sustained period of
  • sustained level of

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Sustained comes from the past participle of the verb sustain, which entered English from Old French 'sostenir' and directly from Latin 'sustinēre' (sub- 'up from below' + tenēre 'to hold'). The original Latin meaning was 'to hold up, support, bear, endure.' By the 14th century, sustain in English meant 'to keep in existence, maintain.' The adjective sustained appeared in the 18th century with the sense of 'kept up without weakening,' used first for military attacks and later for any ongoing effort or condition.