maintain

verb main·tain \ mān-ˈtān , mən- \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

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

News accounts document an effort in 1976 to raise as much as $250,000 to build and maintain a house for Parks.

— frank witsil, Detroit Free Press, "Rosa Parks exhibit of controversial Detroit house reopening," 19 Apr. 2018
The organizations stated the grants will help students build or expand upon existing vegetable gardens, salad bars or beehives, and provide educational resources about agriculture, environmental care and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

— wilborn p. nobles iii, NOLA.com, "New Orleans schools among winners of grants to build gardens," 19 Apr. 2018
When Whitney Houston recorded it in 1992, that same tough reality took on a level of gravitas, yet still maintained a softness in its delivery.

— liza weisstuch, BostonGlobe.com, "Palmetto, one heck of a cover," 19 Apr. 2018
Another Democrat, longtime political operative Marty Dunleavy, met Barbara twice in southern Maine, including once at a restaurant in Kennebunkport, where the family maintains a summer home.

— matthew ormseth, courant.com, "A 76-Year Romance Born In Greenwich Closes With Barbara Bush's Passing," 19 Apr. 2018
The city of Naperville currently owns and maintains the park land, and will continue maintenance once the park is complete.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "City Council approves final plans for smart park, construction expected to begin this summer," 18 Apr. 2018
Other software the commission agreed to buy would detect and flag unusual activity in WisVote, which maintains voter registrations, tracks absentee ballots and performs other election functions.

— patrick marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Elections Commission wants to use $7 million in federal funds to block hackers from Wisconsin's system this fall," 18 Apr. 2018
Al Samawi, who was granted asylum in the United States last year and is now living in Miami, maintains a close bond with Hefter, Hallahan, Pincus and Westheimer.

— PEOPLE.com, "Four Strangers on Facebook Pulled Off Man's Escape From War Half a World Away in Yemen," 18 Apr. 2018
Speculation became reality and after five years, the Laboratorio has rounded into its final year of existence; whether the next mayor of Mexico City will maintain the office remains to be seen.

— julia cooke, Curbed, "How Mexico City’s urban innovation lab tackles the city’s challenges," 18 Apr. 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

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)