Sustainable Meaning
/səˈsteɪnəbəl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjAble to be sustained.
adjAble to be produced or sustained for an indefinite period without damaging the environment, or without depleting a resource; renewable.
Sentence Examples
I like recycling the wall. I do sustainable translation.
I mainly participated in the working group "environmental protection and sustainable agriculture".
CEFR Practice Quiz
To protect the environment for future generations, we need a ____ energy source.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many people are now trying to live a more ____ lifestyle by reducing the amount of plastic they use today.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English sustain Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English sustainable From sustain + -able.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In addition to the resources listed in the organic and local food sections earlier, a good source of sustainable meat is Heritage Foods USA (heritagefoodsusa.com)."
— 2008, Kate L. Harrison, The Green Bride Guide, →ISBN, page 174:
"A city on a hill—or many cities on hills—surrounded by unbroken vistas of beautiful countryside; small, thriving, family-run farms growing organic, seasonal, and sustainable fruits and vegetables specific to the region."
— 2010, Anthony Bourdain, Medium Raw, →ISBN, page 129:
"Right now, rich nations devour 28 tonnes of material per person per year – including everything from fish to forests, plastics to metals. That’s four times more than ecologists say is sustainable."
— 2019, Jason Hickel, “Climate breakdown is coming. The UK needs a Greener New Deal”, in Guardian.:
"It has only been in the last 20 years that the long-term trend away from fossil fuels and toward nuclear energy and sustainables has intensified."
— 1996, Joseph Francis Coates, John B. Mahaffie, Andy Hines, 2025: Scenarios of U.S. and Global Society Reshaped by Science and Technology, page 117:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
To protect the environment for future generations, we need a ____ energy source.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Many people are now trying to live a more ____ lifestyle by reducing the amount of plastic they use today.