maintenance
gb/mˈeɪntənəns/ us/mˈeɪntənəns/
B1
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
action
1
Keeping something in good condition
The work done to keep something working well and not broken.
Usage pattern:
[someone] does maintenance on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'maintenance' with 'repair'. Maintenance includes regular care to prevent problems, while repair is fixing something that is already broken.
Synonyms
upkeep (Slightly more informal; often used for property or equipment.)
Antonyms
neglect (Failure to take care of something, leading to decline or damage.)
Collocations
regular maintenance
|maintenance work
|maintenance schedule
|maintenance team
|maintenance cost
Themes
daily life
|business
|technology
|daily_life
|work
|housing
Examples
- Regular maintenance of your car can prevent costly repairs.
- The building will be closed for maintenance this weekend.
- Software maintenance is essential to fix bugs and improve security.
- The park's maintenance crew keeps the grounds clean and safe.
Learner examples
- I do maintenance on my bike every month.
- The shop is closed for maintenance today.
- We need maintenance for the computer.
- The hotel has a maintenance team.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Regular financial support payments
Money someone gives regularly to another person to help them live, often after a marriage ends.
Usage pattern:
pay maintenance to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'maintenance' with 'support' in general. In this sense, it specifically means ongoing financial payments, not emotional or physical support.
Synonyms
alimony (A legal term in US English specifically for support paid to an ex-spouse.)
Antonyms
self-sufficiency (Being able to support oneself without outside financial help.)
Collocations
pay maintenance
|child maintenance
|maintenance payments
Themes
law
|family
|finance
|relationships
Examples
- He was ordered by the court to pay monthly maintenance to his ex-wife.
- Child maintenance is required until the child turns 18.
- She relies on maintenance payments to cover her rent.
Learner examples
- He pays maintenance to his children.
- She gets maintenance from her ex-husband.
- The man does not pay maintenance.
Grammar
Dictionary form
maintenance
IPA
GB/mˈeɪntənəns/
US/mˈeɪntənəns/
Syllables & stress
main - ten - ance (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (main)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: maintenance
- Plural: maintenance
Word family
Core family
maintain
verb B1
Related words
maintainable
adjective
maintainer
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unmaintainable
adjective
Advanced or less common
maintainability
noun C1
Expressions
maintenance work
1/mˈeɪntənəns wˈɚk/
fixed phrase
Tasks for keeping things working well
Jobs done to take care of and fix things so they keep working.
Examples
- The elevator is out due to maintenance work.
- They scheduled maintenance work for the heating system next week.
under maintenance
1/ˈʌndɚ mˈeɪntənəns/
fixed phrase
Temporarily closed for repair work
Not in use because it is being fixed or cared for.
Examples
- The website is currently under maintenance and will be back online soon.
- The public restroom is under maintenance today.
preventive maintenance
1/pɹɪvˈɛntɪv mˈeɪntənəns/
fixed phrase
technical
regular upkeep to avoid failure
Regular checks and small repairs done on machines or buildings so they do not suddenly break.
Examples
- Preventive maintenance helps extend the life of machinery.
- Good preventive maintenance can greatly extend the life of your car.
- The airline invests heavily in preventive maintenance of its fleet.
- The factory shut down for a day of preventive maintenance on its machines.
- Preventive maintenance is cheaper than fixing a major breakdown.