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
Arab Americans and our allies celebrate our heritage every day of the year for mutual sustenance.
—
Doris Bittar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2024
The larvae suck liquids from tree roots for sustenance, while adult cicadas drink from woody shrubs or trees, the National Wildlife Federation reports
Oak, maple, willow and ash trees are dietary staples, but the bug will feed on any big plant available, according to Orkin.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
This is devastating for people who rely on salmon for a living, for ceremony and for sustenance.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
For sustenance, each man brought two litres of water, a couple of Snickers bars, beef jerky, and cigarettes.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The sudden, mass emergence of cicadas offers up opportunities for sustainable sustenance, according to experts.
—Andy Fies, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Sunlight is crucial: The chlorophyll that gives most asparagus its green color converts the sun’s energy into sustenance.
—Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Hop aboard and snuggle up in a plaid blanket for an outing to a campsite, where the ranch provides cold-weather sustenance like hot chocolate.
—Kira Turnbull, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2024
An international relief organization that provides sustenance to both victims and first responders at humanitarian disasters around the world, the group was thrust unwillingly into a tragic spotlight Monday when seven of its aid workers operating in Gaza were killed by an Israeli airstrike.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Doris Bittar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2024
The larvae suck liquids from tree roots for sustenance, while adult cicadas drink from woody shrubs or trees, the National Wildlife Federation reports
Oak, maple, willow and ash trees are dietary staples, but the bug will feed on any big plant available, according to Orkin.
—Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
This is devastating for people who rely on salmon for a living, for ceremony and for sustenance.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
For sustenance, each man brought two litres of water, a couple of Snickers bars, beef jerky, and cigarettes.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The sudden, mass emergence of cicadas offers up opportunities for sustainable sustenance, according to experts.
—Andy Fies, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Sunlight is crucial: The chlorophyll that gives most asparagus its green color converts the sun’s energy into sustenance.
—Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Hop aboard and snuggle up in a plaid blanket for an outing to a campsite, where the ranch provides cold-weather sustenance like hot chocolate.
—Kira Turnbull, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2024
An international relief organization that provides sustenance to both victims and first responders at humanitarian disasters around the world, the group was thrust unwillingly into a tragic spotlight Monday when seven of its aid workers operating in Gaza were killed by an Israeli airstrike.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sustenance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sustenance
Cite this Entry
“Sustenance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustenance. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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
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