to maintain

Examples

• All

• Otherwise you can't maintain a society or culture.

  Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

• Further, her inability to manage her condition made finding and maintaining employment more difficult.

  Academic text (2017)

• Or will they remain focused and maintain their lead to victory?

• This is to maintain growth, not to grow more.

• You learn how to maintain it by working a program.

• You want to go fast but still maintain your form.

• You always want to maintain a certain degree of mystery.

• But they will if you can maintain a positive attitude.

• It's for the young working woman struggling to maintain a balance between her career and her personal life.

  People Like Us (2012)

• Borrowing also enabled some students to maintain academic progress by enrolling in summer courses.

  Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

K

to keep

vsto maintain

∞ 1.0

To continue doing something or stay in the same state

is about causing continuation including routines or schedules

H

to hold

vsto maintain

840 1.4

To remain true or valid in a situation

is broader, covering both steady states and active plans or routines

C

to continue

vsto maintain

586 1.0

To stay in the same job or role

is more active, causing or enforcing the ongoing state or plan

K

to keep up

vsto maintain

507 2.8

To continue at the same speed or level as others

is about causing general continuation, not only matching level

P

to preserve

vsto maintain

496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

focuses on causing continuation of states or activities, not only protection

S

to stick to

vsto maintain

343 3.0

Keep doing something without changing it, for example following a plan

is broader, covering continuation of states, activities, or schedules

S

to stick with

vsto maintain

341 3.6

Keep doing or supporting something even when it is difficult

is neutral and applies to routine continuation, not only loyal support

R

to retain

vsto maintain

236 3.4

To keep having something such as a job or possession

is more about causing ongoing states or following a schedule than possession

S

to stabilize

vsto maintain

• US

197 3.7

To make something steady so it stops moving or falling

is about causing continuation rather than only making something steady

P

to perpetuate

vsto maintain

114 6.5

Make a bad situation or idea continue when it should stop

is neutral about value, aiming to keep states or schedules intentionally

S

to sustain

vsto maintain

102 4.0

To keep something going for a long time

focuses more on causing ongoing activity or schedule rather than duration

A

to adhere

vsto maintain

87 4.7

Continue to follow and support a rule, belief, or person

is a general action that applies beyond loyalty to rules or beliefs

R

to regulate

vsto maintain

82 3.7

To control the amount, speed, or way something happens

is about causing continuation or following a plan rather than controlling levels

H

to hold to

vsto maintain

25 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

is about causing ongoing states or plans rather than expressing loyalty

K

to keep on

vsto maintain

24 2.2

Continue to have someone working for you

is about causing continuation generally, not only employment or roles

P

to persist in

vsto maintain

20 4.1

To keep doing something even when it is difficult or people disagree

is broader and does not require determination or facing opposition

Antonyms

I

to interrupt

909 2.5

To stop someone speaking or an activity

D

to discontinue

58 4.2

To stop something that is happening or being given

Idioms

M

to maintain a straight face

• Informal

6.0

To keep your face looking serious and not show you are laughing

M

to maintain the high ground

6.7

Keep a morally better or stronger position in an argument

M

to maintain the upper hand

4.9

To keep an advantage or control over others

How Sustained

to perpetuate

114 6.5

to sustain

102 4.0

to maintain

931 3.1

to pause

346 1.0

to stop

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology