maintenance
Usage
What are other ways to say maintenance?
Generally, maintenance refers to care or upkeep, as of machinery or property. But sometimes, maintenance refers to what is spent for the living of another: to provide for the maintenance or support of someone. Maintenance occasionally refers to the allowance itself provided for livelihood: They are entitled to a maintenance from this estate. Living and livelihood (a somewhat more formal word), both refer to what one earns to keep (oneself) alive, but are seldom interchangeable within the same phrase: to earn one's living; to threaten one's livelihood. “To make a living” suggests making just enough to keep alive, and is particularly frequent in the negative: You cannot make a living out of that. “To make a livelihood out of something” suggests rather making a business of it: to make a livelihood out of knitting hats.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Researchers found that these drinks were comparable to water in supporting both weight loss and long-term weight maintenance.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026
The project was developed by St Johns and NG Bailey, who provide maintenance support to the site, after they wanted to do something for the environment.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
The drop-off is forcing dealers to compete more for routine, out-of-pocket maintenance and repair business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
Kyiv also dismissed reports that its F-16 fighter jets -- another key tool used against jet-powered drones -- could be grounded due to delays in maintenance inspection and the supply of parts.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
Maybe the maintenance crew had the day off.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
Vocabulary lists containing maintenance
Freak the Mighty
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Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
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Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live In Infamy" (1941)
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