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sostener

to hold

verb sos-teh-NEHR Less Common

Also means

to maintain

Usage Note

Sostener is conjugated like tener (irregular): sostengo, sostienes… It covers physical holding (sostener una vela = to hold a candle) and figurative support or maintenance (sostener una teoría = to maintain an argument). The related adjective sostenible means 'sustainable,' widely used in environmental discourse.

Examples

"Sostuvo la puerta para que entráramos."

Natural Translation

He held the door so we could enter.

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