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

∞ 1.4

To remain true or valid in a situation

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

K

to keep up

vsto maintain

908 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

504 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

465 3.0

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

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

K

to keep on

vsto maintain

426 2.2

Continue to have someone working for you

is about causing continuation generally, not only employment or roles

S

to stick with

vsto maintain

420 3.6

Keep doing or supporting something even when it is difficult

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

H

to hold to

vsto maintain

365 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

is about causing ongoing states or plans rather than expressing loyalty

R

to retain

vsto maintain

291 3.4

To keep having something such as a job or possession

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

C

to continue

vsto maintain

214 1.0

To stay in the same job or role

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

S

to stabilize

vsto maintain

• US

176 3.7

To make something steady so it stops moving or falling

is about causing continuation rather than only making something steady

S

to sustain

vsto maintain

124 4.0

To keep something going for a long time

focuses more on causing ongoing activity or schedule rather than duration

P

to perpetuate

vsto maintain

101 6.5

Make a bad situation or idea continue when it should stop

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

A

to adhere

vsto maintain

98 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

P

to persist in

vsto maintain

22 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

796 2.5

To stop someone speaking or an activity

D

to discontinue

48 4.2

To stop something that is happening or being given

Idioms

M

to maintain a straight face

• Informal

1 6.0

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

M

to maintain the upper hand

1 4.9

To keep an advantage or control over others

M

to maintain the high ground

1 6.7

Keep a morally better or stronger position in an argument

How Sustained

to perpetuate

101 6.5

to sustain

124 4.0

to maintain

∞ 3.1

to pause

336 1.0

to stop

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology