Uptaker
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sostener

verb

  1. 1. to hold, support

    weight or position

    Common combinations

    • sostener el peso — to support the weight
    • sostener en brazos — to hold in one's arms
    • Sostén la puerta, por favor.Hold the door, please.
    • El puente sostiene mucho peso.The bridge supports a lot of weight.
    • Ella sostuvo al niño mientras bajaba.She held the child as he climbed down.

  2. 2. to support, provide for

    financial support

    Common combinations

    • sostener a la familia — to support the family
    • sostener económicamente — to support financially
    • Sostiene a sus dos hijos.He provides for his two children.
    • El sueldo apenas sostiene a la familia.The salary barely supports the family.
    • Sus padres la sostuvieron durante sus estudios.Her parents supported her during her studies.

  3. 3. to sustain, maintain

    continuity or level

    Common combinations

    • sostener el ritmo — to maintain the pace
    • sostener una conversación — to keep up a conversation
    • sostener el esfuerzo — to sustain the effort
    • El equipo no pudo sostener el ritmo.The team could not maintain the pace.
    • Sostuvieron una conversación durante horas.They kept up a conversation for hours.
    • Es difícil sostener ese esfuerzo cada día.It is hard to maintain that effort every day.

  4. 4. to maintain, assert + que

    an opinion or argument

    Common combinations

    • sostener una opinión — to maintain an opinion
    • sostener un argumento — to put forward an argument
    • Sostiene que el plan es demasiado caro.He maintains that the plan is too expensive.
    • La autora sostiene su opinión con datos.The author supports her opinion with data.
    • El abogado sostuvo que su cliente era inocente.The lawyer argued that his client was innocent.

  5. 5. to stay upright, sustain oneself

    remaining upright or viable

    Common combinations

    • sostenerse en pie — to stay on one's feet
    • sostenerse con las ventas — to be sustained by sales
    • Se sostuvo en pie pese al viento.He stayed on his feet despite the wind.
    • El negocio se sostiene con las ventas.The business is sustained by sales.
    • Se sostuvo de la barandilla para no caer.He held on to the railing to avoid falling.

Same root

sosténsosteniblesostenimiento