maintained; maintaining; maintains
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
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
main·tain·able
(ˈ)mān-ˈtā-nə-bəl 
mən-
: capable of being maintained
maintainability
noun
The only problem with the F-20 was that nobody wanted it, despite its maintainability and low price.
—
Air & Space Smithsonian, June/July 1992
Air & Space Smithsonian, June/July 1992
Examples of maintain in a Sentence
Verb
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 on the Web
Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Natalie Welch, an assistant professor of marketing at Seattle University, said that while the Storm has allowed Seattle to maintain and grow its basketball fanbase ahead of the Sonics’ possible return, the Sonics will also provide a surge of demand for the Storm.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 June 2026
The regime has not built new ones, nor maintained the existing ones built before the revolution in 1959.
—Sarah Moreno
june 5, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
The price tag comes from the California State Auditor’s report that was issued last fall, which found that maintaining similar telework policies could potentially save $225 million annually by reducing the government’s office space footprint.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for maintain
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
The architects varied the floor planes and ceiling heights inside to help define spaces in lieu of walls, maintaining views of the panorama through expanses of floor-to-ceiling glass shaded by broad hemlock eaves.
—Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Natalie Welch, an assistant professor of marketing at Seattle University, said that while the Storm has allowed Seattle to maintain and grow its basketball fanbase ahead of the Sonics’ possible return, the Sonics will also provide a surge of demand for the Storm.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 June 2026
The regime has not built new ones, nor maintained the existing ones built before the revolution in 1959.
—Sarah Moreno
june 5, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026
The price tag comes from the California State Auditor’s report that was issued last fall, which found that maintaining similar telework policies could potentially save $225 million annually by reducing the government’s office space footprint.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for maintain
Cite this Entry
“Maintain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maintain. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
maintain
verb
main·tain
mān-ˈtān
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
4
: to provide for : support
maintain my family by working
5
: to insist to be true
maintained that all men are equal
maintainer
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
