- sustain
- sustain sus‧tain [səˈsteɪn] verb [transitive]1. if a company sustains losses or other difficulties, it has them:
• Like other insurance companies, we have sustained heavy losses.
2. to manage to make something continue to exist over a long period of time:• The Dow Jones broke above the 2935 level in the early afternoon but was unable to sustain the gains.
• Officials predict the electronics industry will be able to sustain growth.
• We're seeing a healthy fall in inflation, but the question is whether it can be sustained.
— sustained adjective :• a period of sustained economic growth
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sustain UK US /səˈsteɪn/ verb [T]► to make or allow something to continue for a period of time: »The board accepted that the growth rates could not be sustained indefinitely.
► to experience loss, injury, or damage: »As a result of the oil spill, BP sustained heavy losses.
»The port sustained severe damage in the storm.
► to provide support for an idea, statement, legal argument, etc.: »The data meant the government could not sustain its argument that lower duty on fuel would lead to lower spending on schools and hospitals.
»Only in one case could the auditors find evidence to sustain a claim of criminal behaviour.
Financial and business terms. 2012.