maintain
//meɪnˈteɪn//
Forms
- present (v1)
- maintain
- past (v2)
- maintained
- past participle (v3)
- maintained
- present participle
- maintaining
- 3rd person singular
- maintains
Definitions
1.To keep up; to preserve; to uphold (a state, condition etc.).
- It’s important to maintain good posture while sitting.
- She struggled to maintain her composure under pressure.
- Mancini's men were far from their best but dug in to earn a 10th win in 11 league games and an eighth successive victory in all competitions to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the table.
2.To declare or affirm (a clause) to be true; to assert.
- Pullman traditionalists will no doubt maintain that the full-service-at-every-seat principle is popular with their clientele; [...].
3.To keep in good condition and working order.
4.To keep composed; to keep one's head up; to stay confident, strong, self-assured; to avoid being a victim; to keep oneself from falling apart.(slang)
- No matter what, you gotta maintain.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1075
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English mayntenen
From Old French maintenir
From Late Latin manūteneō, manūtenēre (“I support”)
From Latin manū (“with/in/by the hand”, ablative of manus) + tenēre (“to hold”).