sustenance

noun

sus·​te·​nance ˈsə-stə-nən(t)s How to pronounce sustenance (audio)
Synonyms of sustenancenext
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

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
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.
The tropical wintering grounds — which have low nitrogen levels — greatly benefit from the whales’ injection of nutrients, which can help grow phytoplankton and microscopic algae and can provide sustenance for fish and sharks. — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025 Korean culture dictates that food doesn’t provide just sustenance, but is a communal activity. — Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025 For morning sustenance, Demolition Coffee is ready and waiting with fresh coffee each morning, and Buttery Baking House provides delectable pastries and hot meals for the perfect brunch. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2025 In season 2’s penultimate episode, a young Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) draws the queen card when the Yellowjackets play a deadly game to figure out who will be killed and turned into sustenance. — Skyler Trepel, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sustenance

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from sustenir

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sustenance was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

sustenance
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Cite this Entry

“Sustenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustenance. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

sustenance

noun
sus·​te·​nance ˈsəs-tə-nən(t)s How to pronounce sustenance (audio)
1
a
: means of support, maintenance, or existence
b
: nourishment sense 1
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

More from Merriam-Webster on sustenance

Nglish: Translation of sustenance for Spanish Speakers

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