Substain vs. Sustain — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 30, 2024
"Substain" is an incorrect spelling; the correct form is "sustain." Sustain means to support, hold, or maintain.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Substain or Sustain
How to spell Sustain?
Substain
Incorrect Spelling
Sustain
Correct Spelling
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Recall the prefix “sub-” usually means below or under; "sustain" means to hold or support, not under.
Focus on the 'sus' sound, as in "suspicion" or "suspense."
Think of "sustain" as containing the word “stain,” which remains.
Remember that "sustain" starts with “sus” like "suspension," which holds something up.
Practice writing the word a few times until the correct spelling sticks.
ADVERTISEMENT
How Do You Spell Sustain Correctly?
Incorrect: It's important to substain a healthy diet.
Correct: It's important to sustain a healthy diet.
Incorrect: Can we substain this level of spending?
Correct: Can we sustain this level of spending?
Incorrect: We need to find ways to substain our resources.
Correct: We need to find ways to sustain our resources.
Incorrect: The economy is struggling to substain growth.
Correct: The economy is struggling to sustain growth.
Sustain Definitions
Sustain can mean to provide the necessities for life or existence.
Plants sustain themselves through photosynthesis.
Sustain might mean to experience or suffer, especially an injury.
He sustained a broken arm from the fall.
To keep in existence; maintain, continue, or prolong
Sustain an effort.
To keep up (a joke or assumed role, for example) competently.
To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for
The income needed to sustain a family.
To support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage
We were sustained by her unflagging optimism.
To support from below; keep from falling or sinking; prop
The beams sustain the weight of the roof.
To bear up under; withstand
Can't sustain the blistering heat.
To experience or suffer
Sustained minor injuries.
To affirm the validity of
The judge has sustained the prosecutor's objection.
A capacity of a musical instrument to continue the resounding of a note or tone.
(transitive) To maintain, or keep in existence.
The professor had trouble sustaining students’ interest until the end of her lectures.
The city came under sustained attack by enemy forces.
Sam managed to sustain his erection for two straight hours.
(transitive) To provide for or nourish.
Provisions to sustain an army
(transitive) To encourage or sanction (something). en
(transitive) To experience or suffer (an injury, etc.).
The building sustained major damage in the earthquake.
(transitive) To confirm, prove, or corroborate; to uphold.
To sustain a charge, an accusation, or a proposition
To allow, accept, or admit (e.g. an objection or motion) as valid.
To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support.
A foundation sustains the superstructure; an animal sustains a load; a rope sustains a weight.
To aid, comfort, or relieve; to vindicate.
(music) A mechanism which can be used to hold a note, as the right pedal on a piano.
To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support; as, a foundation sustains the superstructure; a beast sustains a load; a rope sustains a weight.
Every pillar the temple to sustain.
Hence, to keep from sinking, as in despondence, or the like; to support.
No comfortable expectations of another life to sustain him under the evils in this world.
To maintain; to keep alive; to support; to subsist; to nourish; as, provisions to sustain an army.
To endure without failing or yielding; to bear up under; as, to sustain defeat and disappointment.
To suffer; to bear; to undergo.
Shall Turnus, then, such endless toil sustain?
You shall sustain more new disgraces.
To allow the prosecution of; to admit as valid; to sanction; to continue; not to dismiss or abate; as, the court sustained the action or suit.
To prove; to establish by evidence; to corroborate or confirm; to be conclusive of; as, to sustain a charge, an accusation, or a proposition.
One who, or that which, upholds or sustains; a sustainer.
I waked again, for my sustain was the Lord.
Lengthen or extend in duration or space;
We sustained the diplomatic negociations as long as possible
Prolong the treatment of the patient
Keep up the good work
Undergo (as of injuries and illnesses);
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
Provide with nourishment;
We sustained ourselves on bread and water
This kind of food is not nourishing for young children
Supply with necessities and support;
She alone sustained her family
The money will sustain our good cause
There's little to earn and many to keep
Be the physical support of; carry the weight of;
The beam holds up the roof
He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam
What's holding that mirror?
Admit as valid;
The court sustained the motion
Establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts;
His story confirmed my doubts
The evidence supports the defendant
Sustain can also mean to support emotionally or mentally.
Her hope sustained her through difficult times.
In music, sustain refers to continuing a note or sound.
The pianist used the pedal to sustain the note.
Lastly, sustain can imply maintaining a certain rate or level.
Athletes must sustain their energy during a marathon.
Sustain Meaning in a Sentence
It's challenging to sustain interest in a subject without variety.
Plants need sunlight and water to sustain growth.
Exercise and a balanced diet are essential to sustain good health.
It's important for couples to sustain communication to maintain a healthy relationship.
Governments must take action to sustain economic stability.
To sustain a healthy environment, we must reduce pollution.
A well-maintained garden requires constant effort to sustain its beauty.
The charity relies on donations to sustain its operations.
Renewable energy sources can sustain our energy needs without harming the planet.
Traditional farming techniques can help sustain soil fertility.
Regular maintenance is necessary to sustain the efficiency of the machine.
The support from the community helped sustain the local business during tough times.
To sustain motivation, set realistic goals and celebrate small achievements.
Cultural practices and languages need support to sustain them for future generations.
Community gardens are a great way to sustain local food sources.
To sustain peace, ongoing dialogue and cooperation are necessary.
The teacher uses interactive methods to sustain students' attention.
Financial planning is essential to sustain a comfortable retirement.
The program aims to sustain literacy rates among young children.
Access to clean water is vital to sustain life in arid regions.
Efforts to sustain endangered species include habitat preservation and anti-poaching laws.
Mental well-being is crucial to sustain through times of stress.
Sustain Idioms & Phrases
Sustain growth
Maintain a continuous increase or development.
The new strategy aims to sustain growth in the coming years.
Sustain the effort
Continue putting in effort over a period.
It's crucial to sustain the effort even when progress seems slow.
Sustain damage
To undergo or suffer damage.
The building sustained severe damage during the storm.
Sustain a conversation
To keep a conversation going.
They found common interests that helped them sustain a conversation for hours.
Common Curiosities
What is the verb form of sustain?
"Sustain" itself is a verb.
What is the root word of sustain?
The root word is the Latin “sustinēre.”
Which vowel is used before sustain?
The vowel "a" can be used, as in "a sustain."
What is the singular form of sustain?
"Sustain."
Which preposition is used with sustain?
"By" can be used, as in "sustained by food."
Which article is used with sustain?
"The" can be used before related nouns, as in "the sustainment."
Is sustain a negative or positive word?
Neutral; the connotation depends on context.
What is the pronunciation of sustain?
It's pronounced as [suh-STAYN].
Is sustain an abstract noun?
No, it's primarily a verb.
Why is it called sustain?
"Sustain" is derived from the Latin “sustinēre” meaning "to hold up" or "support."
What is the plural form of sustain?
"Sustain" is a verb and doesn't have a plural form.
Is sustain a noun or adjective?
"Sustain" is primarily a verb, but related forms like "sustainment" are nouns.
Is sustain a countable noun?
"Sustain" is primarily a verb. Its noun forms, like "sustainment," can be countable.
What is the stressed syllable in sustain?
The second syllable, "tain," is stressed.
What is another term for sustain?
Support or maintain.
Which conjunction is used with sustain?
Any conjunction can be used based on the sentence structure, e.g., "and."
Is sustain a vowel or consonant?
"Sustain" is a word consisting of both vowels and consonants.
Is the word sustain imperative?
It can be, e.g., "Sustain your efforts!"
What part of speech is sustain?
Sustain is a verb.
What is the first form of sustain?
Sustain.
Is sustain a collective noun?
No, it's not.
Which determiner is used with sustain?
Determiners like "this" or "each" can be used, e.g., "this sustained effort."
What is the second form of sustain?
Sustained.
How is sustain used in a sentence?
"The farmer's crops are sustained by regular rainfall."
Is sustain an adverb?
No, "sustain" is not an adverb.
How many syllables are in sustain?
Two syllables.
How do we divide sustain into syllables?
It's divided as sus-tain.
Is the sustain term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but it can be used metaphorically in context.
What is the opposite of sustain?
Neglect or abandon.
What is the third form of sustain?
Sustained.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Carrear vs. Carrier
Next Comparison
Resime vs. ResumeAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
