maintain

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /meɪnˈteɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #3828

Meanings

1

verb
To keep something in the same state; to continue or preserve it.

It is important to maintain a healthy diet throughout your life.
2

verb
To keep something in good condition by looking after it and repairing it.

The company spends a lot of money to maintain its old machines.
3

verb
To strongly state that something is true; to insist.

He maintained his innocence even after the trial ended.
4

verb
To provide money or support so that someone or something can continue to exist.

His salary was barely enough to maintain his large family.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 verb · to strongly state that... assert defend

4 verb · to provide money or support... support

Opposites

abandon

Word family

Forms maintainedmaintainingmaintains

Derived forms maingainmaingainingmaintainabilitymaintainablemaintainmentmismaintainundermaintain

Etymology

From Middle English mayntenen, from Old French maintenir, from Late Latin manūteneō, manūtenēre (“I support”), from Latin manū (“with/in/by the hand”, ablative of manus) + tenēre (“to hold”).

*ten- Proto-Indo-European mayntenen Middle English maintenir Old French manuteneo la-lat manū Latin

View etymology graph ->

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# maintain

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /meɪnˈteɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 3828

## Meanings
1. To keep something in the same state; to continue or preserve it.
2. To keep something in good condition by looking after it and repairing it.
3. To strongly state that something is true; to insist.
4. To provide money or support so that someone or something can continue to exist.

## Examples
- It is important to maintain a healthy diet throughout your life.
- The company spends a lot of money to maintain its old machines.
- He maintained his innocence even after the trial ended.
- His salary was barely enough to maintain his large family.

## Antonyms
- abandon

## Derived Forms
- maingain
- maingaining
- maintainability
- maintainable
- maintainment
- mismaintain
- undermaintain

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *ten-
- Root: mayntenen
- Root: maintenir
- Root: manuteneo
- Root: manū

## Etymology
From Middle English mayntenen, from Old French maintenir, from Late Latin manūteneō, manūtenēre (“I support”), from Latin manū (“with/in/by the hand”, ablative of manus) + tenēre (“to hold”).

## AI Etymology
Maintain comes from Middle English mayntenen, from Old French maintenir, from Late Latin manūteneō, manūtenēre (“I support”), from Latin manū (“with/in/by the hand”, ablative of manus) + tenēre (“to hold”). In present-day English its meanings include to keep something in the same state; to continue or preserve it, to keep something in good condition by looking after it and repairing it, and to strongly state that something is true; to insist. The historical chain runs through *ten- (Proto-Indo-European), mayntenen (Middle English), maintenir (Old French), manuteneo (Late Latin), and manū (Latin). Related and derived forms include maingain, maingaining, and maintainability.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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maintain

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