maintain

/meɪnˈteɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /meɪnˈteɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /mān-ˈtān mən-/ (ame, mw)

maintain — verb

  • maintainpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • maintainshe / she / it
  • maintainedpast simple
  • maintaining-ing form

1. to keep something at the same level or in the same state without letting it drop

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to keep something at the same level or in the same state without letting it drop or stop — for example, maintaining your speed while driving, a friendship over many years, or silence in a library

例句

Amara maintained a steady pace throughout the ten-kilometre race.

collocation: maintain a steady pace

The two neighbours have maintained a close friendship for over thirty years.

maintain + relationship noun

同義詞
  • sustain

    more about keeping energy or effort going over time

  • preserve

    more about protecting something from harm or change

  • keep up

    informal equivalent, common in everyday speech

  • uphold

    used specifically for principles, standards, or legal decisions

反義詞
  • neglect

    fail to keep something going

  • abandon

    stop maintaining completely

  • let go

    informal; deliberately stop maintaining something

文法句型

maintain + noun phrase

用法筆記

Common objects are abstract things such as speed, silence, balance, relationships, and standards. Distinguish from sense 2 (KEEP IN REPAIR), which is used for physical things like roads, machines, and buildings.

常見錯誤

❌She maintained to run every morning.
✅She maintained her habit of running every morning.
💡maintain must be followed by a noun or a that-clause, never an infinitive.

2. to look after a building, machine, road, or vehicle so that it stays in good wor

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to look after a building, machine, road, or vehicle so that it stays in good working order and does not break down or fall apart

例句

Keiko spends every Saturday morning maintaining her grandmother's old garden.

The council set aside funds to maintain the stone bridge built in 1892.

maintain + structure or building

同義詞
  • service

    more about regular professional checks and repairs

  • look after

    informal; used for both things and people

  • care for

    softer, more often used for living things like gardens

  • keep up

    informal; similar to sense 1 but for physical upkeep

反義詞

文法句型

maintain + noun phrase (physical object)

用法筆記

Object is usually a physical thing: a building, road, vehicle, machine, or garden. Distinguish from sense 1 (KEEP GOING), which deals with abstract states rather than physical upkeep.

常見錯誤

❌I need to maintain the lightbulb in the kitchen.
✅I need to replace the lightbulb in the kitchen.
💡maintain is for ongoing upkeep of whole systems, not replacing a single small part.

3. to state strongly that you believe something is the case, especially when other

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to state strongly that you believe something is the case, especially when other people disagree with you or challenge what you are saying

例句

Fatima maintained that she had handed in the report before the noon deadline.

maintain + that-clause for asserting something is true

Despite the evidence against him, Henrik maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

同義詞
  • assert

    less forceful; more about stating something confidently

  • insist

    more about demanding that others accept what you say

  • contend

    formal; used when arguing a position in a debate

  • claim

    less formal, and can sometimes imply doubt about the truth

反義詞
  • deny

    say that something is not true

  • retract

    formally take back a statement you made before

文法句型

maintain + that-clause

maintain + one's innocence/story/position

用法筆記

Almost always followed by a that-clause or a noun such as 'innocence' or 'story'. This is the most formal sense of maintain and is common in legal, political, and journalistic contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He maintained me that the meeting was cancelled.
✅He maintained that the meeting was cancelled.
💡maintain takes a direct that-clause, not an indirect object.

4. to give a person the money, food, and other things they need to live — often use

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to give a person the money, food, and other things they need to live — often used about supporting a family or dependants over a long period

例句

Naledi works two jobs to maintain her three younger siblings after school.

maintain + dependants

It was hard for Oluwaseun to maintain a family of five on a single salary.

同義詞
  • support

    more general; includes emotional support as well as financial

  • provide for

    close synonym; especially common in family contexts

  • keep

    informal; e.g. 'he keeps a family of four on a modest income'

反義詞
  • abandon

    stop providing for someone you are responsible for

  • neglect

    fail to give someone the care and support they need

文法句型

maintain + person/dependant

maintain + oneself

用法筆記

Object is usually a person or group of people. Common in contexts about family responsibilities and financial support over time. Frequently used with a reflexive pronoun (maintain oneself).

常見錯誤

❌The government maintains the new railway project.
✅The government funds the new railway project.
💡maintain for financial support applies to people, not projects. For projects, use fund or finance.