sustenance
noun
sus·te·nance
ˈsə-stə-nən(t)s 
1
a
: means of support, maintenance, or subsistence : living
b
: food, provisions
also
: nourishment
2
a
: the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained
b
: a supplying or being supplied with the necessaries of life
3
: something that gives support, endurance, or strength
Examples of sustenance in a Sentence
Tree bark provides deer with sustenance in periods of drought.
The village depends on the sea for sustenance.
She draws spiritual sustenance from daily church attendance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Culture care Since houseplants are confined to a smaller space in a container, their roots cannot spread wider or deeper for sustenance.
—
Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025
Instead, most pass holders found that their accommodations consisted of unfinished tents and drenched mattresses, with cheese sandwiches for sustenance.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2025
Forests that operate like communities, using their root systems to share intelligence and sustenance and survival tips.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Grubhub: Super Bowl deals at 7-Eleven, Pizza Hut and Popeyes
The delivery service has several deals for football fans in search of game-day sustenance.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sustenance
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2025
Instead, most pass holders found that their accommodations consisted of unfinished tents and drenched mattresses, with cheese sandwiches for sustenance.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2025
Forests that operate like communities, using their root systems to share intelligence and sustenance and survival tips.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Grubhub: Super Bowl deals at 7-Eleven, Pizza Hut and Popeyes
The delivery service has several deals for football fans in search of game-day sustenance.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sustenance
Cite this Entry
“Sustenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustenance. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sustenance
noun
sus·te·nance
ˈsəs-tə-nən(t)s
1
a
: means of support, maintenance, or existence
2
: the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained
especially
: a supplying with the necessities of life
3
: something that gives support, help, or strength
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share