Suffer vs Sustain

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Suffer

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

Sustain

Top 2,000 (common) C1 verb

Most common: Suffer

	Suffer	Sustain
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌfə(r)/","/ˈsʌfəz/","/ˈsʌfəd/","/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌfər/","/ˈsʌfərz/","/ˈsʌfərd/","/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/səˈsteɪn/","/səˈsteɪnz/","/səˈsteɪnd/","/səˈsteɪnɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/səˈsteɪn/","/səˈsteɪnz/","/səˈsteɪnd/","/səˈsteɪnɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	to feel pain or distress	To keep something going or maintain it.
Example	Many people suffer from anxiety and depression.	We must find ways to sustain our natural resources for the future.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B1	C1
Part of speech	verb	verb
Collocations	a lot, badly, enormously, be likely to, tend to, continue to, for, from, under, suffer in silence, a lot, badly, enormously, be likely to, tend to, continue to, for, from, under, suffer in silence	no longer, barely, indefinitely, be able to, can, be unable to
Antonyms	enjoy, thrive, prosper	neglect, abandon, cease
Common mistakes	"Suffer with" instead of "suffer from", Using 'suffer' without a specific condition, Mixing up 'suffer' with 'sufferer' as a verb	'Sustain' is often confused with 'sustained' as a past form., Learners sometimes forget to add an object after 'sustain'., 'Sustain' is misused when referring to temporary situations, instead of ongoing support.
Usage notes	Used when someone is experiencing pain or hardship. Avoid in casual contexts where lighter terms are appropriate.	Use 'sustain' in contexts about keeping something alive or supporting it over time. It can be formal when discussing topics like environmental issues or less formal in conversations about personal interests.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

The Dead do not suffer the living to pass.

Let them suffer, then, as she suffers.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

The Dead do not suffer the living to pass.

Let them suffer, then, as she suffers.

Suffer

There's not a planet in our solar system that could sustain life...

Sherlock › S1 E1

Impossible to sustain a smoking habit in London these days.

There's not a planet in our solar system that could sustain life...

Sherlock › S1 E1

Impossible to sustain a smoking habit in London these days.

Sustain

Frequently asked questions: Suffer vs Sustain

What's the difference between Suffer and Sustain?

Suffer: to feel pain or distress Sustain: To keep something going or maintain it.

Which is more common: Suffer and Sustain?

Suffer is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Suffer and Sustain?

Sustain is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Suffer and Sustain the same CEFR level?

Suffer: B1, Sustain: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Suffer and Sustain?

Suffer: verb, Sustain: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Suffer: Many people suffer from anxiety and depression. Sustain: We must find ways to sustain our natural resources for the future.

Can I use Suffer and Sustain interchangeably?

Not always. Suffer and Sustain are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.