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
Wheel it onto a veranda or sunroom to draw in some sustenance on wheels.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 July 2025
The fair is bracing for roughly a million visitors, all of whom — in between roller coaster thrills, baking showdowns, livestock exhibits and live tunes, will require some serious sustenance.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 14 July 2025
There was just so little emotional and spiritual sustenance.
—Nicholas Cannariato, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Not for sustenance, not for shelter, but for a popular toy: Labubu.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sustenance
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Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 July 2025
The fair is bracing for roughly a million visitors, all of whom — in between roller coaster thrills, baking showdowns, livestock exhibits and live tunes, will require some serious sustenance.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 14 July 2025
There was just so little emotional and spiritual sustenance.
—Nicholas Cannariato, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Not for sustenance, not for shelter, but for a popular toy: Labubu.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 3 July 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 30 Jul. 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
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