maintain
verb OPAL WOPAL S
/meɪnˈteɪn/
/meɪnˈteɪn/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they maintain | /meɪnˈteɪn/ /meɪnˈteɪn/ |
| he / she / it maintains | /meɪnˈteɪnz/ /meɪnˈteɪnz/ |
| past simple maintained | /meɪnˈteɪnd/ /meɪnˈteɪnd/ |
| past participle maintained | /meɪnˈteɪnd/ /meɪnˈteɪnd/ |
| -ing form maintaining | /meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/ /meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/ |
- maintain something to make something continue at the same level, standard, etc. synonym preserve
- to maintain law and order/standards/a balance/control
- ANU has maintained its position as Australia's top university.
- The two countries have always maintained close relations.
- (formal) She maintained a dignified silence.
- to maintain prices (= prevent them from falling or rising)
Extra Examples- Building and maintaining good relationships is an important part of what we do.
- He emphasized the need to maintain the status quo.
- He successfully maintained the financial health of the company.
- The government's position became increasingly difficult to maintain.
- They are looking to cut costs while simultaneously maintaining the existing levels of service.
- This pace cannot be maintained indefinitely.
- Security personnel struggled to maintain order.
- Email is used to maintain contact with members.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + maintain- be anxious to
- want to
- have to
- …
- indefinitely
- simultaneously
- successfully
- …
- the duty to maintain something
- the need to maintain something
- maintain something to keep a building, a machine, etc. in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly
- The house is large and difficult to maintain.
Extra ExamplesTopics Buildingsb2- a poorly maintained central heating system
- I do a lot of mechanical work and I maintain my own car.
- The grounds are beautifully maintained.
- The wheel spats collect debris and make it difficult to maintain the brakes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- carefully
- properly
- well
- …
- be difficult to
- be easy to
- be responsible for maintaining something
- maintain somebody/something to support somebody/something over a long period of time by giving money, paying for food, etc. synonym keep
- Her income was barely enough to maintain one child, let alone three.
Extra Examples- His priority is to maintain and protect his family.
- Under the terms of the agreement she had forfeited her right to be maintained by her husband.
- Maintaining a modern, well-equipped armed force is a challenge.
- to keep stating that something is true, even though other people do not agree or do not believe it synonym insist
- maintain (that)… The men maintained (that) they were out of the country when the crime was committed.
- It is difficult to maintain that such a harsh punishment was justified.
- maintain something She has always maintained her innocence.
- + speech ‘But I'm innocent!’ she maintained.
Language Bank argueargueVerbs for reporting an opinionTopics Opinion and argumentb2- Some critics argue that Picasso remained a great master all his life.
- Others maintain that there is a significant deterioration in quality in his post-war work.
- Picasso himself claimed that good art is created, but great art is stolen.
- As Smith has noted, Picasso borrowed imagery from African art.
- As the author points out, Picasso borrowed imagery from African art.
- The writer challenges the notion that Picasso’s sculpture was secondary to his painting.
- It has been suggested that Picasso’s painting was influenced by jazz music.
Word OriginMiddle English (also in the sense ‘practise an action habitually’): from Old French maintenir, from Latin manu tenere ‘hold in the hand’.