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.
Postponing refinery maintenance, using strategic reserves, and reducing consumption appear to be the only other ways to partially address the imbalance, she said.
From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026
The backlog of maintenance and repairs in NHS buildings in Wales deemed at "high" or "significant risk" has reached nearly £1bn, figures reveal.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
Drivers who use the roads pay for road construction and maintenance when they pay fuel taxes.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
Others look sturdier: Nearly two-thirds of revenue at Pool Corp is for maintenance of existing pools and its distribution ability is unparalleled.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
Cars in their assigned parking spots; a stray cat, the one Michael had secretly named Tuxedo, slinking around the bushes; Mr. Mosley, the maintenance man, hefting a can of paint toward a vacant apartment.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
