Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense maintains, present participle maintaining, past tense, past participle maintained
1. verb
If you maintain something, you continue to have it, and do not let it stop or grow weaker.
The Department maintains many close contacts with the chemical industry. [VERB noun]
Push yourself to make friends and to maintain the friendships. [VERB noun]
...the emergency powers to try to maintain law and order. [VERB noun]
2. verb
If you say that someone maintainsthat something is true, you mean that they have stated their opinion strongly but not everyone agrees with them or believes them.
He has maintained that the money was donated for international purposes. [VERB that]
Prosecutors maintain no deal was made. [VERB that]
'Not all feminism has to be like this,' Jo maintains. [VERB with quote]
He had always maintained his innocence. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: assert, state, hold, claim More Synonyms of maintain
3. verb
If you maintain something at a particular rate or level, you keep it at that rate or level.
The government was right to maintain interest rates at a high level. [VERB noun + at]
...action is required to ensure standards are maintained at as high a level as possible. [V n at n]
4. verb
If you maintain a road, building, vehicle, or machine, you keep it in good condition by regularly checking it and repairing it when necessary.
...a tough campaign to force authorities to maintain roads properly. [VERB noun]
The house costs a fortune to maintain. [VERB noun]
The cars are getting older and less well-maintained. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: look after, care for, take care of, finance More Synonyms of maintain
5. verb
If you maintain someone, you provide them with money and other things that they need.
...the basic costs of maintaining a child. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: support, look after, keep, finance More Synonyms of maintain
More Synonyms of maintain
maintain in British English
(meɪnˈteɪn)
verb(transitive)
1.
to continue or retain; keep in existence
2.
to keep in proper or good condition
to maintain a building
3.
to support a style of living
the money maintained us for a month
4. (takes a clause as object)
to state or assert
he maintained that Talbot was wrong
5.
to defend against contradiction; uphold
she maintained her innocence
6.
to defend against physical attack
Derived forms
maintainable (mainˈtainable)
adjective
maintainer (mainˈtainer)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French maintenir, ultimately from Latin manū tenēre to hold in the hand
maintain in American English
(meɪnˈteɪn)
verb transitive
1.
to keep or keep up; continue in or with; carry on
2.
a.
to keep in existence or continuance
food maintains life
b.
to keep in a certain condition or position, esp. of efficiency, good repair, etc.; preserve
to maintain roads
3.
to keep or hold (a place, position, etc.) against attack; defend
4.
a.
to uphold or defend, as by argument; affirm
b.
to declare in a positive way; assert
5.
to support by aid, influence, protection, etc.
6.
to support by providing means of existence; bear the expenses of
to maintain a family
SIMILAR WORDS: supˈport
Derived forms
maintainable (mainˈtainable)
adjective
maintainer (mainˈtainer)
noun
Word origin
ME mainteinen < OFr maintenir < ML manutenere < L manu tenere, to hold in the hand < manu, abl. of manus, hand + tenere, to hold: see manual & tenant
Examples of 'maintain' in a sentence
maintain
Having a strong core will help you to maintain a good running technique.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This is also a good way to maintain a clump that has naturally died out in the middle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One possible reason why exercise and diet help to keep the brain healthy is they maintain good blood flow.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She has always maintained her innocence.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
For this reason I try to maintain good physical form.
The Sun (2016)
Washington had always maintained he stood above party.
Divine, Robert A. (editor) & Breen, T. H & Frederickson, George M & Williams, R. Hal America Past and Present (1995)
Austria will maintain and defend this with all means at her disposal.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
Set goals focusing on maintaining good health habits.
The Sun (2015)
Thus the winds maintain the conditions that set them blowing in the first place.
Levenson, Thomas Ice Time: Climate, Science, and Life on Earth (1990)
He had always maintained close links with his homeland.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Keep the weights high while maintaining good technique.
The Sun (2012)
The trick is to maintain your condition as much as you can.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Keep the weights heavy but maintain good technique throughout.
The Sun (2013)
Maintaining peak physical condition is essential in my sport.
The Sun (2011)
It also benefited patients with other heart conditions while maintaining healthy blood pressure.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Keep the weights heavy but maintain good technique.
The Sun (2013)
He maintains that the conditions which sustain life are not infinite.
Improve Your Landscape Painting
He served 16 months in jail but has always maintained his innocence.
The Sun (2015)
This is really important if we are to maintain good, constructive relationships between colleagues.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The difference was that all those players were much younger and thus could do the tracking and defending required to maintain a modicum of balance.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The Wales manager will be constantly reminding his players of the need to maintain concentration while defending for lengthy spells.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I was elected to defend, maintain and continue to perfect socialism, not destroy it.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
maintain
British English: maintain /meɪnˈteɪn/ VERB
If you maintain something, you continue to have it, and do not let it stop or grow weaker.