maintain
/meɪnˈteɪn
/ /mənˈteɪn /verb [with object]
1Cause or enable (a condition or situation) to continue: the need to maintain close links between industry and schools...
- It will try to ensure that the right conditions are maintained to stimulate continued growth in the sector.
- You are able to maintain stability in professional situations and retain a position of authority!
- Sino-Japanese cooperation will undoubtedly continue to aid in maintaining peace and stability in the Korean peninsula.
Synonyms
continue, keep, keep going, keep up, keep alive, keep in existence, carry on, preserve, conserve, prolong, perpetuate, sustain, bolster (up), prop up, retain, support, bear
1.1Keep (something) at the same level or rate: agricultural prices will have to be maintained...
- ACT is opposed to maintaining income tax rates at their present level when the Government has nearly an $8 billion surplus.
- The rate of dextrose infusion needed to maintain stable blood glucose levels was monitored.
- The coliseum looks unbelievably real, and I can't believe the level of detail we were able to attain while maintaining a fast frame rate.
1.2Keep (a building, machine, or road) in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly: the Department for Transport is responsible for maintaining the main roads in England...
- He notes that the building is maintained in good condition.
- Neither side has the time or interest to maintain roads and buildings.
- In the meantime it would repair and maintain the crumbling buildings.
Synonyms
keep in good condition, keep in repair, keep up, service, rebuild, conserve, preserve, keep intact, care for, take good care of, look after
2Provide with necessities for life or existence: the allowance covers the basic costs of maintaining a child...
- They were maintained under standard conditions and were fed standard food and water ad libitum.
- The horses were maintained on this diet throughout the study.
- Animals were maintained on a standard laboratory diet.
Synonyms
support, provide for, keep, finance;
nurture, feed, nourish, sustain
2.1Keep (a military unit) supplied with equipment and other requirements: an English garrison was maintained there in the seventeenth century...
- However, like any military force today, maintaining a modern, well-equipped, and ready armed force is a challenge.
- Please let us know of your efforts to help train and maintain the Military Intelligence Corps.
- Each major political regime maintained its own separate military apparatus.
2.2 archaic Give one’s support to; uphold: the king swears he will maintain the laws of God...
- Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God?
Synonyms
uphold, defend, fight for, champion, support, back, advocate
3 [reporting verb] State something strongly to be the case; assert: [with object]: he has always maintained his innocence [with clause]: he had persistently maintained that he would not stand against his old friend...
- I have always maintained that all protests should be acted upon so a precedent and case study is set for the future.
- Third, the idea/expression distinction should be strongly and vigorously maintained.
- Mrs Gaskin maintains that her husband always had access to their two children who had visited him regularly in jail.
Synonyms
insist (on), declare, assert, protest, state, aver, say, announce, affirm, avow, profess, claim, allege, contend, argue, swear (to), hold to
rare asseverate
Derivatives
maintainability
- Such a decision would involve many factors: cost, maintainability, and consumer preference/branding issues, among others.
- It will entail improvements to self-defence and war-fighting capabilities and enhancement to the ship's reliability, maintainability, availability and supportability.
- Materials, including buff-colored brick, metal panels, glass and steel, create a positive visual impact and enhance the building's maintainability.
maintainable
- The JTR must be inherently reliable, maintainable, and deployable in order to minimize life cycle support costs.
- The AD - 64D Apache Longbow is the most lethal, survivable, deployable and maintainable multimission helicopter in the world.
- When this occurs, the TCP windows throttle back to reduce the data flow permissible to permit the TCP network to discover a new maintainable steady state.
Origin
Middle English (also in the sense 'practise an action habitually'): from Old French maintenir, from Latin manu tenere 'hold in the hand'.