Basic Details
Word: Sustainable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Able to be maintained or continued without causing harm to the environment or depleting resources.
Synonyms: Maintainable, eco-friendly, renewable
Antonyms: Unsustainable, wasteful
Idioms and Phrases
- Sustainable growth: Growth that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations. Example: "To achieve sustainable growth, companies must adopt better environmental practices."
- Walk the sustainability talk: To take action that matches one's claims about being sustainable. Example: "It's important for businesses to walk the sustainability talk by using eco-friendly materials."
Usage Examples
Example 1: We should focus on sustainable energy sources, like solar and wind power, to help protect our planet.
Example 2: The local community started a sustainable farming project that uses fewer resources and produces healthy food.
Example 3: Many companies are now investing in sustainable practices to minimise their impact on the environment.
Fun Fact
The concept of sustainability goes back thousands of years, but it became popular in the 1980s when the Brundtland Commission published a report that defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Famous Quote
"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it." Robert Swan
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "sustainable" mean?
a) Able to be maintained without harm
b) Able to grow quickly
c) A type of food
d) Unrelated to the environment
Answer: a) Able to be maintained without harm
2. Which of these is a synonym of "sustainable"?
a) Temporary
b) Eco-friendly
c) Dangerous
d) Unknown
Answer: b) Eco-friendly
3. Which word is an antonym of "sustainable"?
a) Efficient
b) Unsustainable
c) Productive
d) Helpful
Answer: b) Unsustainable
4. Which sentence uses "sustainable" correctly?
a) The sustainable tree grew very tall in one day.
b) They are creating a sustainable plan to reduce waste.
c) She danced sustainably at the party.
d) The sustainable dessert was very tasty.
Answer: b) They are creating a sustainable plan to reduce waste.
5. What does "walk the sustainability talk" mean?
a) To talk about sustainability without taking action
b) To take action that matches sustainability claims
c) To ignore sustainability completely
d) To walk in a sustainable way
Answer: b) To take action that matches sustainability claims
