www.merriam-webster.com Open in urlscan Pro
2600:9000:206f:7800:c:3d32:e340:93a1  Public Scan

Form analysis
3 forms found in the DOM

/dictionary

<form id="search-form" class="d-flex w-100 position-relative search-form" autocomplete="off" novalidate="" action="/dictionary">
  <input id="search-term" class="form-control rounded border-dark search" type="search" placeholder="Search Dictionary" aria-label="Search" value="maintain" autocomplete="off" spellcheck="false" autocorrect="off" autocapitalize="off">
  <button class="btn position-absolute close-button" title="close" aria-label="Close Search" type="reset">
    <svg width="12" height="13" viewBox="0 0 12 13" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
      <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd"
        d="M7.42616 6.5L11.7046 10.7785C12.0985 11.1723 12.0985 11.8108 11.7046 12.2046C11.3108 12.5985 10.6723 12.5985 10.2785 12.2046L6 7.92616L1.72153 12.2046C1.3277 12.5985 0.68919 12.5985 0.295367 12.2046C-0.0984557 11.8108 -0.0984557 11.1723 0.295367 10.7785L4.57384 6.5L0.295367 2.22153C-0.0984557 1.8277 -0.0984557 1.18919 0.295367 0.795367C0.68919 0.401544 1.3277 0.401544 1.72153 0.795367L6 5.07384L10.2785 0.795367C10.6723 0.401544 11.3108 0.401544 11.7046 0.795367C12.0985 1.18919 12.0985 1.8277 11.7046 2.22153L7.42616 6.5Z"
        fill="#97BECE"></path>
    </svg>
  </button>
  <button class="btn position-absolute search-button search-dictionary" title="Search" aria-label="Search Word" type="submit">
    <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" width="19px" height="21px" viewBox="0 0 26 29" version="1.1" class="svg replaced-svg">
      <g class="Search" stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd">
        <g class="g-search-icon" transform="translate(1.000000, 1.000000)" fill="#fff" fill-rule="nonzero">
          <path
            d="M17.5185815,17.4073633 L24.5896493,24.4784311 C24.9801736,24.8689554 24.9801736,25.5021204 24.5896493,25.8926447 L23.1754357,27.3068582 C22.7849114,27.6973825 22.1517464,27.6973825 21.7612221,27.3068582 L14.6901543,20.2357904 C14.29963,19.8452661 14.29963,19.2121011 14.6901543,18.8215769 L16.1043679,17.4073633 C16.4948922,17.016839 17.1280572,17.016839 17.5185815,17.4073633 Z M10.5,21 C4.70101013,21 0,16.2989899 0,10.5 C0,4.70101013 4.70101013,0 10.5,0 C16.2989899,0 21,4.70101013 21,10.5 C21,16.2989899 16.2989899,21 10.5,21 Z M10.5,18 C14.6421356,18 18,14.6421356 18,10.5 C18,6.35786438 14.6421356,3 10.5,3 C6.35786438,3 3,6.35786438 3,10.5 C3,14.6421356 6.35786438,18 10.5,18 Z"
            class="Oval"></path>
        </g>
      </g>
    </svg>
  </button>
</form>

POST /word-of-the-day

<form class="js-wod-subscribe-frm wotd-side__subscribe__form" action="/word-of-the-day" method="post">
  <input type="submit" class="wod-submit wotd-side__subscribe__form__submit" name="wod-submit" value="SUBSCRIBE">
  <input type="text" class="wod-subscribe wotd-side__subscribe__form__input" name="wod-subscribe" placeholder="Your email address" aria-label="Subscribe to Word of the Day">
</form>

<form data-medium="footer" class="footer-subscribe js-wod-subscribe-frm">
  <input class="footer-subscribe-field" type="text" name="email" value="" aria-label="Sign up for Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day newsletter" placeholder="Your email address">
  <input class="footer-subscribe-button" type="submit" name="submit" aria-label="Subscribe" value="SUBSCRIBE">
  <input class="footer-subscribe-button hidden arrow" type="submit" name="submit" value=">">
</form>

Text Content

Merriam-Webster Logo


Menu Toggle
 
Merriam-Webster Logo
Hello,
Username
Log In Sign Up
 * Username
   
   * My Words
   * Recents
   * Settings
   * Log Out

 * Games & Quizzes
 * Thesaurus
 * Features
 * Word of the Day
 * Shop
 * Join MWU
 * More
   
   * Shop M-W Books link icon
   * Join MWU link icon
      * Log In
      * Username
      * My Words
      * Recents
      * Account
      * Log Out
 * * Settings
   * My Words
   * Recents
   * Account
   * Log Out


Est. 1828
Dictionary
 * Definition
 * Definition
 * 
 * Synonyms
 * Synonym Chooser
 * Example Sentences
 * Word History
 * Phrases Containing
 * Entries Near

 *  * Cite this EntryCitation
    * Share
    * Kids DefinitionKids
    * More from M-W
   
   Show more
 * Show more
   * Citation
   * Share
   * Kids
   * More from M-W

 * Save Word
   * To save this word, you'll need to log in.
     Log In





MAINTAIN


VERB

main· tain mān-ˈtān How to pronounce maintain (audio)
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 How to pronounce maintain (audio)
noun
maintainable
mān-ˈtā-nə-bəl How to pronounce maintain (audio)
adjective
maintainer noun



SYNONYMS

   
 * conserve
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 * keep up
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 * preserve
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 * save
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for maintain

maintain, assert, defend, vindicate, justify mean to uphold as true, right,
just, or reasonable.

maintain stresses firmness of conviction.

steadfastly maintained his innocence

assert suggests determination to make others accept one's claim.

asserted her rights

defend implies maintaining in the face of attack or criticism.

defended his voting record

vindicate implies successfully defending.

his success vindicated our faith in him

justify implies showing to be true, just, or valid by appeal to a standard or to
precedent.

the action was used to justify military intervention




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 Republican Party leaders are already focusing on
flipping seats in several battleground states, where Democrats will have to
fight to maintain their control in the upper chamber. — Rachel Schilke,
Washington Examiner, 16 Jan. 2023 The Americans and Germans argue that to train
Ukrainians to operate modern Leopard or Abrams tanks — and to maintain them in
the field — would take many months. — Thomas Gibbons-neff, New York Times, 7
Jan. 2023 Democrats will maintain control because Vice President Kamala Harris
can break tie votes in the Senate. — Time, 3 Jan. 2023
Josh Allen and the Bills are hoping to command the top seed in the AFC with a
win while the Bengals look to maintain their control of the AFC North on this
Monday night matchup. — Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2023 While not
guaranteed, annual adjustments are meant to provide inflation protection to help
people maintain their standard of living in retirement. — Ron Carson, Forbes, 28
Dec. 2022 After Banchero and Mo Wagner got into foul trouble early in the fourth
quarter, James scored 10 points — all inside — to help Los Angeles maintain its
double-digit lead. — San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Dec. 2022 It is made with
highly digestible ingredients that help your puppy maintain healthy digestion. —
Dallas News, 22 Dec. 2022 Vitamin D3 is more than twice as effective as vitamin
D2 at increasing blood levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D is required in tiny
amounts to help the body maintain proper calcium and phosphorus levels in the
blood. — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022
See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news
sources to reflect current usage of the word 'maintain.' Views expressed in the
examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us
feedback.




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

Time Traveler
The first known use of maintain was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century


PHRASES CONTAINING MAINTAIN

 * maintain one's cool/composure
 * maintain life
 * maintain the status quo

 * maintain one's cool/composure
 * maintain life
 * maintain the status quo


DICTIONARY ENTRIES NEAR MAINTAIN

maint

maintain

maintained school

See More Nearby Entries 


CITE THIS ENTRY

Style
MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster

“Maintain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster,
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maintain. Accessed 24 Jan. 2023.

Copy Citation


SHARE

Post the Definition of maintain to Facebook Facebook Facebook
Share the Definition of maintain on Twitter Twitter Twitter


KIDS DEFINITION

maintain

verb
main· tain mān-ˈtān How to pronounce maintain (audio)
mən-
1
: to keep in an existing state
especially : to keep in good condition
maintain one's health
maintain machinery
2
: to defend by argument
maintain a position
3
: to continue in : carry on, keep up
maintain your balance
maintain a correspondence
4
: to provide for : support
maintain my family by working
5
: to insist to be true
maintained that all men are equal
maintainable
-ˈtā-nə-bəl How to pronounce maintain (audio)
adjective
maintainer noun



MORE FROM MERRIAM-WEBSTER ON MAINTAIN

Nglish: Translation of maintain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of maintain for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: 19 Jan 2023 - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and
advanced search—ad free!

Merriam-Webster unabridged

WORD OF THE DAY

BALKANIZE

Listen to the pronunciation of balkanize

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!



Test Your Vocabulary

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHALLENGING WORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW

 * 
 * Often used to describe “the march of time,” what does inexorable mean?

 * Swift Unpredictable
 * Slow Relentless

You know what it looks like… but what is it called?

TAKE THE QUIZ

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY

Words at Play
 * 14 Words Inspired by Dogs
   
   A lexicographer's best friend

 * Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 4
   
   More words, more beautiful, more useless

 * 'Gray' vs. 'Grey': What is the Difference?
   
   Spelling isn't all black and white.

 * When Were Words First Used?
   
   Look up any year to find out

Ask the Editors
 * Weird Plurals
   
   One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. Wh...

 * Irregardless
   
   It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean ...

 * Bring vs. Take
   
   Both words imply motion, but the difference may b...

 * Defenestration
   
   The fascinating story behind many people's favori...

Word Games
 * Which Came First?
   
   "Leggings" or "mom jeans"? "Chillax" or "dumpster...
   
   Take the quiz

 * Name That Thing MegaQuiz: Vol. 4
   
   Test your visual vocabulary!
   
   Take the quiz

 * Name That Thing
   
   You know what it looks like… but what is it cal...
   
   Take the quiz

 * Spelling Bee Quiz
   
   Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
   
   Take the quiz

Merriam Webster

Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!



OTHER MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARIES

 * MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY
 * SCRABBLE® WORD FINDER
 * MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY API

 * NGLISH - SPANISH-ENGLISH TRANSLATION
 * BRITANNICA ENGLISH - ARABIC TRANSLATION

FOLLOW US

 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * YouTube
 * Instagram

 * Browse the Dictionary:
 * a
 * b
 * c
 * d
 * e
 * f
 * g
 * h
 * i
 * j
 * k
 * l
 * m
 * n
 * o
 * p
 * q
 * r
 * s
 * t
 * u
 * v
 * w
 * x
 * y
 * z
 * 0-9
 * BIO
 * GEO

 * Home
 * Help
 * About Us
 * Shop
 * Advertising Info
 * Dictionary API
 * Contact Us
 * Join MWU
 * Videos
 * Word of the Year
 * Kid's Dictionary
 * Law Dictionary
 * Medical Dictionary
 * Privacy Policy
 * Terms of Use

 * Browse the Thesaurus
 * Browse the Medical Dictionary
 * Browse the Legal Dictionary
 * Browse the Kid's Dictionary

© 2023 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated


Update Privacy Preferences