Maintain Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Published on June 29, 2025
Maintain refers to keeping something in good condition or preserving its state or quality. e.g., They work hard to maintain the cleanliness of the park.
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Maintain Definitions
To support financially
The grant helps maintain the research project.
To keep in existence or continuity
The museum maintains a vast collection of artifacts.
To provide for or sustain
He maintains his family with his job.
To assert or affirm
She maintains her innocence in the face of accusations.
To uphold or defend
He maintained his argument with compelling evidence.
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To continue or persevere
Despite challenges, they maintain a positive attitude.
To keep in a specified state or position
She maintains a healthy lifestyle.
To hold or preserve in a particular state
The park is maintained as a natural habitat.
To keep in an appropriate condition
It's important to maintain your car regularly.
To carry on or conduct
They maintain a dialogue with their community.
State categorically
To keep up or carry on; continue
Maintain good relations.
To keep in an existing state; preserve or retain
Maintain one's composure.
To keep in a condition of good repair or efficiency
Maintain two cars.
To provide for; support
Maintain a family.
To keep in existence; sustain
Enough food to maintain life.
To defend or hold against criticism or attack
Maintained his stand on taxes.
To declare to be true; affirm
Maintained her innocence.
To adhere or conform to; keep
Maintain a busy schedule.
To support (someone), to back up or assist (someone) in an action.
To keep up; to preserve; to uphold (a state, condition etc.).
To declare or affirm (a clause) to be true; to assert.
To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain a fence or a railroad; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain present reputation.
To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish.
God values . . . every one as he maintains his post.
To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail.
Maintain talk with the duke.
To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed.
Glad, by his labor, to maintain his life.
What maintains one vice would bring up two children.
To affirm; to support or defend by argument.
It is hard to maintain the truth, but much harder to be maintained by it.
Keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g.,
Keep clean
Hold in place
She always held herself as a lady
The students keep me on my toes
Keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction;
We preserve these archeological findings
The old lady could not keep up the building
Children must be taught to conserve our national heritage
The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts
Supply with necessities and support;
She alone sustained her family
The money will sustain our good cause
There's little to earn and many to keep
Of power or authority
Maintain for use and service;
I keep a car in the countryside
She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
Maintain by writing regular records;
Keep a diary
Maintain a record
Keep notes
State or assert;
He maintained his innocence
Support against an opponent;
The appellate court upheld the verdict
Maintain Snonyms
Sustain
To strengthen or support physically or mentally.
The economy needs to sustain growth over the long term.
Preserve
To keep (something) in its original or existing state.
Efforts were made to preserve historical monuments.
Keep
To have or retain possession of.
Keep the receipt for your records.
Uphold
To maintain or support in the face of possible opposition.
The court upheld the decision of the lower court.
Foster
To encourage or promote the development of (something, typically something regarded as good).
The club's aim is to foster better relations within the community.
Continue
To persist in an activity or process.
She continued her studies despite financial problems.
Nurture
To care for and encourage the growth or development of.
Good teachers know how to nurture students' talents.
Retain
To continue to have (something); keep possession of.
He retained his championship title for another year.
Support
To bear all or part of the weight of; hold up.
The bridge is designed to support heavy loads.
Conserve
To protect (something, especially an environmentally or culturally important place or thing) from harm or destruction.
Conserving water should be a priority in arid regions.
Maintain Idioms & Phrases
Maintain the status quo
Keeping things the way they currently are.
The company decided to maintain the status quo to avoid risks.
Maintain one's composure
To stay calm and in control of one's emotions.
She maintained her composure during the intense debate.
Maintain a stiff upper lip
To stay brave and keep one's feelings hidden.
Despite the bad news, she maintained a stiff upper lip.
Maintain a balance
To keep different aspects in equal or proper proportions.
It's important to maintain a balance between work and leisure.
Maintain the pace
To continue at the same speed or level.
The runner maintained the pace to stay in the lead.
Maintain one's ground
To not retreat or give in.
Despite the pressure, he maintained his ground.
Maintain a positive outlook
To remain optimistic.
Despite setbacks, it's beneficial to maintain a positive outlook.
Maintain a low profile
To avoid attracting attention.
After the scandal, he decided to maintain a low profile.
Maintain silence
To keep quiet or not disclose information.
The witness was asked to maintain silence about the incident.
Maintain a clean slate
To keep a record free of wrongdoings.
After the pardon, he was determined to maintain a clean slate.
Maintain a watchful eye
To observe carefully or vigilantly.
The lifeguard maintained a watchful eye on the swimmers.
Maintain one's cool
To stay calm under stress or pressure.
It's crucial to maintain one's cool in emergencies.
Maintain a safe margin
To ensure a sufficient buffer or safety gap.
Investors prefer to maintain a safe margin in their portfolios.
Maintain confidentiality
To keep information secret or private.
Doctors are required to maintain confidentiality with their patients.
Maintain the lead
To continue being in front or winning.
The team managed to maintain the lead till the end of the match.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
To live in a way that promotes good health.
Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Maintain allegiance
To remain loyal or committed.
The soldiers maintained their allegiance to their country.
Maintain order
To keep things organized and under control.
The new manager quickly established and maintained order.
Maintain a steady course
To continue moving forward without significant changes.
The captain maintained a steady course despite the storm.
Maintain one's dignity
To preserve self-respect.
She maintained her dignity throughout the ordeal.
Maintain Example Sentences
Teachers maintain order in the classroom.
The city must maintain these roads before winter.
They maintain a strict schedule to stay organized.
It's his job to maintain the equipment.
It's hard to maintain focus during a long lecture.
He maintains a journal for his daily reflections.
You should maintain a safe distance while driving.
Athletes maintain their fitness through rigorous training.
The company maintains a high standard of quality.
The software helps maintain records efficiently.
They maintain a small garden in their backyard.
It's important to maintain a balanced diet.
The zoo maintains a variety of animal species.
The library maintains a vast collection of books.
They maintain a strong friendship despite distance.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide maintain into syllables?
Maintain is divided into syllables as main-tain.
What is a stressed syllable in maintain?
The stressed syllable in maintain is the second one, -tain.
How is maintain used in a sentence?
You can use maintain to describe the act of keeping something in a specific state, e.g., They maintain a clean and welcoming home.
Why is it called maintain?
It's called maintain because it comes from the Latin words 'manu tenere,' which mean to hold in the hand, signifying keeping or holding a condition or state.
How many syllables are in maintain?
There are two syllables in maintain.
What is the singular form of maintain?
Maintain does not have a singular or plural form; it remains the same as it is a verb.
What is the pronunciation of maintain?
Maintain is pronounced as /meyn-'teyn/.
What is the first form of maintain?
The first form of maintain is maintain (base form).
What is another term for maintain?
Another term for maintain is uphold.
What is the root word of maintain?
The root of maintain is the Latin word 'tenere,' which means to hold.
What is the verb form of maintain?
Maintain is itself a verb in its base form.
What is the second form of maintain?
The second form of maintain is maintained (past simple).
What is the opposite of maintain?
The opposite of maintain could be neglect or deteriorate.
Is maintain a noun or adjective?
Maintain is a verb, not a noun or adjective.
Is maintain an adverb?
No, maintain is not an adverb.
What is the plural form of maintain?
Maintain does not have a plural form as it is a verb.
Is maintain an abstract noun?
No, maintain is a verb, not a noun.
Is maintain a collective noun?
No, maintain is not a collective noun; it is a verb.
What is the third form of maintain?
The third form of maintain is maintained (past participle).
Is maintain a negative or positive word?
Maintain is generally neutral but can be seen in a positive light when referring to upkeeping or preserving something valuable.
Is maintain a vowel or consonant?
The word maintain starts with a consonant.
Is the word maintain Gerund?
The gerund form of maintain is maintaining.
Which determiner is used with maintain?
Determiners such as "the," "a," or possessive pronouns can be used with nouns related to maintain, but not with maintain directly since it's a verb.
What part of speech is maintain?
Maintain is a verb.
Is maintain a countable noun?
Maintain is not a noun; it's a verb.
Is the word maintain imperative?
Maintain can be used in the imperative mood when giving commands or instructions, e.g., "Maintain silence."
Is the word “maintain” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Maintain is a verb, so it does not serve as a direct or indirect object; however, it can take both in sentences.
Which preposition is used with maintain?
Prepositions like "at," "in," or "with" can be used with maintain depending on the context, e.g., "maintain at a certain level," "maintain in good condition," or "maintain with care."
Which article is used with maintain?
The indefinite article "a" is often used before nouns related to the action of maintaining, e.g., "a maintenance schedule," but maintain itself as a verb does not take an article.
Is the maintain term a metaphor?
The word maintain can be used metaphorically in contexts where it means to uphold ideas or conditions rather than physical objects.
Which vowel is used before maintain?
Vowels in articles or prepositions like "a" or "an" can precede maintain depending on the context, but typically "a" is used, as in "a maintenance task."
Which conjunction is used with maintain?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "while" can be used with maintain to connect clauses, e.g., "maintain and improve," "maintain but not exceed," or "maintain while adjusting."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
