maintain
verb
main·tain mān-ˈtān 
mən-
maintained; maintaining; maintains
transitive verb
1
: to keep in an existing state (as of repair, efficiency, or validity) : preserve from failure or decline
maintain machinery
2
: to sustain against opposition or danger : uphold and defend
maintain a position
3
: to continue or persevere in : carry on, keep up
couldn't maintain his composure
4
a
: to support or provide for
has a family to maintain
b
: sustain
enough food to maintain life
5
: to affirm in or as if in argument : assert
maintained that the earth is flat
maintainability
mān-ˌtā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun maintainable
mān-ˈtā-nə-bəl
adjective maintainer noun
Synonyms
- conserve
- keep up
- preserve
- save
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They have always maintained high standards of professional conduct. He has found it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. The company has done a poor job of maintaining its computer network. It was obvious that the house had been poorly maintained. She was finding it hard to maintain her balance. She still maintains a close relationship with her college roommate. It's difficult to maintain a correspondence when we're both so busy. The pilot was struggling to maintain control of the aircraft. The police say that they will do whatever is necessary to maintain law and order. See More
Recent Examples on the Web This dramatically cuts expenses for the automaker and its dealers because having vehicles sit on car lots costs money, to maintain them and insure them. 
Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 14 Sep. 2022 The social media giant developed the popular open-source A.I. programming language and has helped maintain it. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 The formula also includes cinnamon, bergamot, rose, and orange flower, though the company has been careful not to reveal the entire original recipe in efforts to maintain its secret. Danielle James, Allure, 14 Sep. 2022 Ewing said that while the queen’s early rule, which began in 1952, coincided with independence movements across several British colonies, the empire itself was guilty of stifling them to maintain control. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2022 The department said many of the state's facilities were built before air conditioning was commonly installed, and prisons built in the '80s and '90s didn't have AC because of the cost to install and maintain it. Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 The man failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for failure to maintain physical control. cleveland, 9 Sep. 2022 Caiazzo was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, evading a motor vehicle accident, failure to maintain proper lane and interfering with a police officer. Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 9 Sep. 2022 Tatum said a rent cap would impair landlords’ ability to maintain their properties by restricting income for a year. Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 See More
Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 14 Sep. 2022 The social media giant developed the popular open-source A.I. programming language and has helped maintain it. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 The formula also includes cinnamon, bergamot, rose, and orange flower, though the company has been careful not to reveal the entire original recipe in efforts to maintain its secret. Danielle James, Allure, 14 Sep. 2022 Ewing said that while the queen’s early rule, which began in 1952, coincided with independence movements across several British colonies, the empire itself was guilty of stifling them to maintain control. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2022 The department said many of the state's facilities were built before air conditioning was commonly installed, and prisons built in the '80s and '90s didn't have AC because of the cost to install and maintain it. Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 The man failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for failure to maintain physical control. cleveland, 9 Sep. 2022 Caiazzo was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, evading a motor vehicle accident, failure to maintain proper lane and interfering with a police officer. Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 9 Sep. 2022 Tatum said a rent cap would impair landlords’ ability to maintain their properties by restricting income for a year. Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English mainteinen, from Anglo-French maintenir, maynteiner, from Medieval Latin manutenēre, from Latin manu tenēre to hold in the hand
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing maintain
Kids Definition
maintain
verb
main·tain mān-ˈtān
maintained; maintaining
1
: to carry on : continue
After many years they still maintain a correspondence.
2
: to keep in a particular or desired state
Eat properly to maintain good health.
3
: to insist to be true
She maintains her innocence.
4
: to provide for : support
I maintained my family by working two jobs.
maintaining
verb
1
as in preserving
to keep in good condition he repairs and maintains antique cars as a hobby Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- preserving
- conserving
- saving
- protecting
- defending
- restoring
- sustaining
- managing
- safeguarding
- servicing
- rebuilding
- guarding
- keeping up
- supporting
- reconstructing
- rehabilitating
- shielding
- curing
- healing
- husbanding
- remedying
- rejuvenating
- screening
- patching
- fixing
- mending
- caring (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignoring
- neglecting
- destroying
- disregarding
- breaking
- impairing
- damaging
- hurting
- injuring
- wrecking
- ruining
- harming
2
as in defending
to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections part of debating is learning to maintain your position in the face of harsh challenges Synonyms & Similar Words
- defending
- justifying
- upholding
- supporting
- advocating
- asserting
- affirming
- championing
- confirming
- discussing
- proclaiming
- insisting
- emphasizing
- sticking up for
- vindicating
- standing up for
- claiming
- pleading
- stating
- contending
- arguing
- professing
- espousing
- protesting
- debating
- stressing
- warranting
- underscoring
- underlining
- avowing
- averring
- avouching
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- abandoning
- withdrawing
- forsaking
- retracting
- reversing
- switching
- taking back
- abjuring
- disproving
- refuting
- rebutting
- recanting
- controverting
3
as in keeping
to pay the living expenses of we simply cannot afford to maintain a horse Synonyms & Similar Words
- keeping
- supporting
- funding
- financing
- sponsoring
- taking care of
- underwriting
- staking
- patronizing
- providing (for)
- footing the bill (for)
- setting up
4
as in arguing
to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration she continued to maintain that a sewing machine would end up paying for itself since she could make her own clothes Synonyms & Similar Words
- arguing
- contending
- reasoning
- asserting
- insisting
- convincing
- justifying
- pleading
- explaining
- mentioning
- claiming
- enforcing
- persuading
- suggesting
- affirming
- defending
- considering
- citing
- offering
- advancing
- advocating
- submitting
- supporting
- giving
- discussing
- advising
- proposing
- championing
- recommending
- urging
- countering
- averring
- adducing
- rationalizing
- refuting
- counseling
- debating
- avowing
- rebutting
- disproving
- espousing
- avouching
- counselling
- confuting
5
as in insisting
to state as a fact usually forcefully he maintains that there is indeed hard evidence for extraterrestrial visitors Synonyms & Similar Words
- insisting
- claiming
- alleging
- asserting
- affirming
- contending
- declaring
- announcing
- protesting
- professing
- arguing
- proclaiming
- defending
- confirming
- averring
- warranting
- purporting
- upholding
- avowing
- reasoning
- broadcasting
- justifying
- putting forth
- avouching
- rationalizing
- reaffirming
- vindicating
- persevering
- supporting
- reasserting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- denying
- abandoning
- rejecting
- negating
- challenging
- repudiating
- disavowing
- questioning
- disclaiming
- disputing
- disproving
- refuting
- countering
- rebutting
- disowning
- contradicting
- gainsaying
- negativing
- confuting