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.
But inherited real estate also brings property-tax obligations, maintenance and illiquidity that not every heir can manage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
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 city agreed to significantly raise sewer fees over four years starting in 2024, eventually doubling its rates, in order to fund additional repairs and sewer maintenance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
“Harry Tuttle” was the name printed on my maintenance tech ID badge.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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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