maintain

verb

main·tain mān-ˈtān

mən-

maintained; maintaining; maintains

Synonyms of maintain next

transitive verb

: to keep in an existing state (as of repair, efficiency, or validity) : preserve from failure or decline

maintain machinery

: to sustain against opposition or danger : uphold and defend

maintain a position

: to continue or persevere in : carry on, keep up

couldn't maintain his composure

: to support or provide for

has a family to maintain

: sustain

enough food to maintain life

: 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

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 As a communication robot of the new interstellar time, one of Telenoid’s main tasks is to help people from planet Earth to maintain their human relationships. —

IEEE Spectrum, 15 Feb. 2023 The cast matches this style with glitzily formal, gleamingly faux-casual manners, which allow the characters to maintain similarly opaque and impenetrable façades, sealing off private lives from public personae. —

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2023 Lastly, get feedback and check in often to get a pulse and maintain strong relationships. —

Expert Panel®, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023 Nail salons should make sure to properly operate and maintain their HVAC systems, meaning the air in the nail salon must change often. —

Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 6 Feb. 2023 Magnetic fields help planets maintain their atmospheres. —

Ashley Strickland, CNN, 4 Feb. 2023 One positive aspect is how the viewer can make stress-free decisions on whether to maintain the relationship. —

Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2023 The other has a personality disorder and cannot maintain stable relationships. —

Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 31 Jan. 2023 Although the Ukrainian volunteers are confident, U.S. officials have real concerns about whether Ukraine can quickly learn to operate and maintain the Abrams tanks. —

Phil Mccausland, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2023 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