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.
Hourly installation and maintenance jobs tied to data centers advertise pay about 42% higher than comparable roles elsewhere.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
And when the 1907-built edifice required maintenance, some party members did not view it as a blessing.
From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2026
He was an airline dispatcher a few decades ago and says aircraft swaps, due to canceled or delayed flights, maintenance or other issues, were simpler then because planes weren’t as full and so subdivided.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
He also said Metrolink failed to ensure proper maintenance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
“Ms. Caldwell, you sure you want us to start tonight?” the chief of maintenance asked, handing her some earmuffs.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
Vocabulary lists containing maintenance
Freak the Mighty
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live In Infamy" (1941)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
