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.
There are also sky-high maintenance and staffing expenses, which may inhibit even the wealthiest buyers.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
A spokesperson said MLA travel allowances were "designed to cover the general costs of travel" including vehicle taxes, insurance and maintenance.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
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
After its maiden flight in October 2025, the X-59 underwent a planned maintenance period before returning to flight testing in March 2026.
From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026
In consequence, even as visitor numbers have soared—from 79 million in 1960 to almost 270 million today—campsites and interpretation centers have been shut, warden numbers slashed, and essential maintenance deferred to a positively ludicrous degree.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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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