maintain
to keep in an appropriate condition, operation, or force; keep unimpaired: to maintain order; to maintain public highways.
to keep in a specified state, position, etc.: to maintain a correct posture; to maintain good health.
to support in speech or argument, as a statement or proposition.
to keep or hold against attack: to maintain one's ground.
to provide for the upkeep or support of; carry the expenses of: to maintain a family.
to sustain or support: not enough water to maintain life.
Origin of maintain
1synonym study For maintain
Other words for maintain
Opposites for maintain
Other words from maintain
- main·tain·a·ble, adjective
- main·tain·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- main·tain·er, noun
- pre·main·tain, verb (used with object)
- self-main·tained, adjective
- self-main·tain·ing, adjective
- un·der·main·tain, verb (used with object)
- un·der·main·tained, adjective
- un·main·tain·a·ble, adjective
- un·main·tained, adjective
- well-main·tained, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use maintain in a sentence
As Darcy points out, the strategy Fox has always used to maintain the loyalty of its viewers — telling them that every other news source is fatally infected with liberal bias — is now being deployed by those minor-league outlets against Fox itself.
The Republican Party’s future: Being terrorized by its unhinged base | Paul Waldman | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostBased on contact tracing and genomic sequencing, league officials maintain they have seen no evidence of on-field transmission of the virus during games.
Pennsylvania says all athletes must wear masks while playing. The Steelers say they’re exempt. | Matt Bonesteel | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostSeveral states maintain school-level data dashboards that provide information on infections among students and staff who attend in-person school.
Schools are not spreading covid-19. This new data explains why. | Emily Oster | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostHe said that “there is leadership in place” and that the facility meets department guidelines of maintaining an 8-to-1 ratio for staff and youths.
Smithsonian museums, zoo to close as coronavirus caseload in D.C. region hits record for 16th day | Dana Hedgpeth, Ovetta Wiggins | November 19, 2020 | Washington PostPeople should maintain six feet of distance at all times from people from other households.
CDC recommends against Thanksgiving travel amid surge of coronavirus cases | Brittany Shammas | November 19, 2020 | Washington Post
But the proud stone lion that once stood atop the tomb, as Peristeri has often maintained, suggests a male occupant and a warrior.
Is This Alexander the Great’s Tomb—or His Wife’s? | James Romm | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe has been summoned from the command post the NYPD has maintained for a decade just up the street.
He does not seem to have anticipated that she could have maintained such remarkable presence of mind.
“A nation of homeowners, of people who own a real share in their land, is unconquerable,” he maintained.
Despite any partisan enmities, the two top politicos maintained a cordial relationship.
El Imparcial maintained that he was worthy of being honoured as a 19th century conquering hero.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanThe battle was for a long time maintained by both armies with obstinate energy.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellWith that sum, twice as much infantry could be maintained as that which your Majesty has here.
This was when Don Joan Ronquillo, with that great fleet, went out and fought the one that the enemy maintained along these coasts.
The latter maintained their ground, but no important advantage was gained by either party.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell
British Dictionary definitions for maintain
/ (meɪnˈteɪn) /
to continue or retain; keep in existence
to keep in proper or good condition: to maintain a building
to support a style of living: the money maintained us for a month
(takes a clause as object) to state or assert: he maintained that Talbot was wrong
to defend against contradiction; uphold: she maintained her innocence
to defend against physical attack
Origin of maintain
1Derived forms of maintain
- maintainable, adjective
- maintainer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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