maintain

verb main·tain \ mān-ˈtān , mən- \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: maintain in a Sentence

Definition of maintain

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

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maintainability

play \-ˌtā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

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maintainable

play \-ˈtā-nə-bəl\ adjective

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maintainer

noun

See maintain defined for English-language learners

See maintain defined for kids

Examples of maintain in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of maintain from the Web

The new law, however, maintains a cap of 30,000 barrels annually on self-distribution.

— amy haneline, Indianapolis Star, "Sun King Brewery beers head to sunny Florida," 13 June 2018
Throughout the season, Pagnotta maintained this group could be as good if not better than last year’s undefeated squad.

— kyle stackpole, Howard County Times, "Glenelg senior Anna Callahan seizes girls lacrosse Player of the Year honors," 12 June 2018
The federal government maintained that the purchase violated antitrust law because AT&T owns satellite provider DirecTV, a content distributor, and Time Warner is a content producer.

— alexander soderstrom, ajc, "Court allows AT&T purchase of Time Warner in major media acquisition," 12 June 2018
Investigators, however, maintained that Moseley misled his attorneys.

— steve vockrodt, kansascity, "Another Kansas City payday lender is off to prison, this time for 10 years," 12 June 2018
But most Lasik surgeons maintain that soreness, dry eyes, double vision and other visual aberrations like those suffered by Ramirez subside within months for most patients.

— author: roni caryn rabin, Anchorage Daily News, "Blurred vision, burning eyes: This is a Lasik success?," 12 June 2018
The mother's side of the home was well maintained and the defendant's side was messy, with items stacked on top of his bed and an assortment of weapons — including two Samurai swords — lined up against a wall, according to the detective.

— city news service, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Man who stabbed his mother in Clairemont home convicted of murder," 11 June 2018
The Five Star Movement, which won nearly a third of votes in Italy in March, long maintained a vague line on polarizing issues like immigration.

— gaia pianigiani, New York Times, "Italy’s New Populist Government Turns Away Ship With 600 Migrants Aboard," 11 June 2018
Megumi's parents maintain their daughter is still alive and want her returned.

— NBC News, "Japanese citizens simply vanished. North Korea had abducted them. But why?," 11 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of maintain

Middle English mainteinen, from Anglo-French maintenir, maynteiner, from Medieval Latin manutenēre, from Latin manu tenēre to hold in the hand

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

maintain Synonyms

Phrases

put forth;

Synonym Discussion of 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

MAINTAIN Defined for English Language Learners

maintain

verb

Definition of maintain for English Language Learners

: to cause (something) to exist or continue without changing
: to keep (something) in good condition by making repairs, correcting problems, etc.
: to continue having or doing (something)