Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for maintain. Search instead for helps maintain.
Definitions

maintain

[mayn-tayn] / meɪnˈteɪn /




Usage

What are other ways to say maintain? To maintain is to support so as to preserve intact: to maintain an attitude of defiance. To support is to hold up or add strength to, literally or figuratively: The columns support the roof. To sustain, a rather elevated word, suggests completeness and adequacy in supporting: The court sustained his claim. Uphold applies especially to supporting or backing another, as in a statement, opinion, or belief: to uphold the rights of a minority.

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.

See Examples For:

Beijing will maintain an assertive posture with Washington, Wu said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

But it will mean little unless they can maintain the momentum against Villa, who were getting beaten heavily by Barcelona as Old Trafford was in tumult.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

At temperatures exceeding 100,000 times those at the Sun's center, particles such as protons and neutrons can no longer maintain their normal structure.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026

“A predictable limitation would enable utilities to maintain investment grade credit ratings to better access capital at lower borrowing costs for customers,” Lynsey Paulo, a PG&E spokesperson, said in an e-mail.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

He fiddles with the stapler in front of him and can’t maintain eye contact for more than a few seconds.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

The Justice Department maintains that its efforts are intended to prevent illegal voting, which is prohibited in federal elections.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

"Russia maintains close contacts with the US on space, including with Elon Musk," the embassy wrote.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

A few months later, the small state agency that maintains the official list of tribal contacts unveiled a proposal that some non-recognized tribes argued would effectively exclude them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

Nomura maintains its neutral rating and 39.00 Hong Kong dollar target price on ZTE’s Hong Kong-listed shares, which rise 3.9% to HK$19.84.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

The nation maintains its own elected government and has twenty thousand members.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Still, he maintained, echoing a similar statement after polls closed Tuesday, that he'd "do it again" despite the election hammering.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

Zverev has always firmly maintained his innocence and has insisted the allegations are baseless.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

The proposed limit on shareholder liability would be equal to 20% of each utility’s transmission and distribution equity rate base, which differs based on the size of the grid maintained by each company.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

The scheme included payoffs to officials who maintained former Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa’s aircraft fleet, according to the guilty plea.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

The aura of science and medical research was meticulously maintained, often dramatized to achieve an even greater effect on public imagination.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Meanwhile, maintaining the US naval blockade in the Middle East is a strain on the country's military, while negotiations have so far failed to yield clear progress.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

We are not simply worried about maintaining our standard of living in retirement.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026

But part of maintaining its heart and charm is remembering that at its core, “it’s kind of a small operation.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

The state-owned energy giant attributed the boost to higher crude volumes sold from maintaining consistent production, as well as higher prices of refined and chemical products.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

First, to ensure that black and white children could go to the same schools while maintaining a quality learning environment.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson


Vocabulary lists containing maintain

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training