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.
His body was found inside the unlocked SUV three days later when Wenrick told the fleet maintenance crew to take the patrol cars to be washed.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
The work addressed leaks, aging infrastructure and other maintenance issues at the historic site.
From Salon • May 31, 2026
Because HOA managers typically outsource tasks such as building maintenance, landscaping, legal services and accounting, they are light on fixed assets, with low overhead and lean staffing—attractive qualities for investment firms.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
He says this wetter weather has been having "a dulling effect" on the Giant's outline, leaving it greener and less distinct between maintenance work.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Homer’s duties encompassed driving the team, sundry maintenance, and what Ridgeway termed “bookkeeping.”
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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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