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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 


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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
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