maintain
B2Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To keep something in existence, good condition, or operation; to continue to have or support.
To assert or defend a point of view; to provide financial support for.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a conscious effort over time to prevent deterioration or change from an established state. Can denote both physical objects (cars, roads) and abstract concepts (relationships, peace, a stance).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Slight preference in British English for 'maintain' in formal/official contexts (e.g., 'maintain a property') where American might more readily use 'keep up' informally.
Connotations
Equally formal in both varieties. In legal/technical contexts (e.g., 'to maintain an action'), it is standard in both.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, with near-identical usage patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
maintain [OBJECT] (e.g., maintain the car)maintain [THAT-CLAUSE] (e.g., maintain that she is right)maintain [OBJECT] [ADJECTIVE/PREP PHRASE] (e.g., maintain the room at 20°C)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Maintain a stiff upper lip”
- “Maintain the status quo”
- “Maintain a low profile”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To keep profits, market share, or a competitive edge. 'The company strives to maintain its lead in innovation.'
Academic
To argue or posit a theory; to keep a constant variable in an experiment. 'The author maintains that socio-economic factors are primary.'
Everyday
To keep something in good working order. 'It's expensive to maintain an old house.'
Technical
To perform regular servicing on machinery or software. 'The IT team maintains the server infrastructure.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council must maintain the public footpaths.
- He maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
- It's difficult to maintain this pace for much longer.
American English
- The city maintains the parks very well.
- She maintains that the policy is flawed.
- You need to maintain a minimum balance in your account.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He works hard to maintain his garden.
- We maintain friendly relations with our neighbours.
- The school works to maintain high academic standards.
- It is important to maintain a healthy diet.
- The government is struggling to maintain economic stability.
- Despite the evidence, he continued to maintain his original story.
- The historian maintains that the traditional narrative is fundamentally flawed.
- The software requires a dedicated team to maintain its security protocols.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MAINTAINer of a ship—their job is to keep it in good, working condition.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTINUITY IS A FORCE (to maintain pressure); A STATE IS A POSSESSION (to maintain one's composure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'manufacture' (производить).
- Avoid overusing 'support' (поддерживать) for abstract concepts where 'maintain' (поддерживать в состоянии) is more precise.
- "Maintain" does not mean "to repair a breakdown" (чинить), but "to prevent breakdowns".
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I must maintain my car because it's broken.' (Use 'repair' or 'fix'). Correct: 'I must maintain my car to prevent it from breaking.'
- Incorrect preposition: 'maintain with a high standard'. Correct: 'maintain a high standard'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'maintain' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Maintain' is preventative (keeping something good to avoid problems), while 'repair' is corrective (fixing something after it has broken).
Rarely. It is almost always a transitive verb requiring a direct object (e.g., maintain *something*).
It is neutral but leans towards formal, especially in written and professional contexts. In casual speech, 'keep up' is often used.
The main noun is 'maintenance' (the process of maintaining). 'Maintainer' is also possible but less common (e.g., 'a software maintainer').