maintain
gb/meɪntˈeɪn/ us/meɪntˈeɪn/
B1
Anglais
~ 900
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
B1
action
1
Keep in good condition
To keep something working well or looking good by taking care of it.
Schéma d’usage :
to maintain [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'maintain' with 'obtain'. 'Maintain' is about keeping something in its current state, not getting it.
Synonymes
upkeep (Refers more to the ongoing process of keeping something in good condition.)
|
preserve (Implies protecting from harm or decay, sometimes with a focus on long-term protection.)
Antonymes
neglect (Means to fail to care for something properly, leading to decline or damage.)
Collocations
maintain equipment
|maintain a building
|maintain a vehicle
|properly maintain
|maintain facilities
Thèmes
daily life
|work
|technology
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- We need to maintain the car to avoid costly repairs.
- The company maintains its computers regularly to prevent breakdowns.
- It’s important to maintain your home to keep its value.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I maintain my bike every week.
- He maintains his shoes so they look new.
- They maintain the garden very well.
Verbe
B2
action
2
Continue to have or keep
To keep a certain way of being or situation without change.
Schéma d’usage :
to maintain [a state/quality/position]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse 'maintain' with 'remain'. 'Remain' means to stay in a place or condition passively, while 'maintain' implies active effort.
Synonymes
sustain (Often used for continuing something over a period of time, especially effort or energy.)
Antonymes
lose (To no longer have a state, quality, or position.)
Collocations
maintain control
|maintain focus
|maintain balance
|maintain speed
Thèmes
emotions
|sports
|business
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She maintained her composure during the crisis.
- The team struggled to maintain their lead in the final minutes.
- He maintains a high level of fitness all year round.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She maintains her weight by eating healthy food.
- He maintains his place in the class.
- They maintain good relations with their neighbors.
Verbe
formal
B2
action
3
State firmly is true
To say strongly that something is true, even if others disagree.
Schéma d’usage :
to maintain (that) [clause]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes omit 'that' after 'maintain', which can make the sentence unclear in formal writing.
Synonymes
assert (Formally and confidently state something as fact.)
|
claim (Say that something is true; can sound less certain than 'maintain'.)
Antonymes
deny (To say that something is not true.)
Collocations
maintain innocence
|maintain that something is true
Thèmes
law
|debate
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- He maintained that he had never seen her before.
- The scientist maintains that the results are conclusive.
- She maintained her innocence throughout the trial.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He maintains that he is right.
- She maintains that she did not take the money.
- They maintain that this plan will work.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
maintain
API
GB/meɪntˈeɪn/
US/meɪntˈeɪn/
Syllabes et accentuation
main - tain (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tain)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: maintain
- 3rd Person Singular: maintains
- Present Participle: maintaining
- Past: maintained
Famille de mots
Forms
maintains
verb
maintaining
verb
maintained
verb
Core family
maintenance
noun B1
Related words
maintainer
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unmaintainable
adjective
Advanced or less common
maintainable
adjective
maintainability
noun C1
Expressions
maintain a low profile
1/meɪntˈeɪn ə lˈoʊ pɹˈoʊfˌaɪl/
idiom
Avoid drawing attention to oneself
To act quietly and not attract attention.
Exemples
- After the scandal, he decided to maintain a low profile.
- She maintained a low profile during the negotiations.
maintain contact
1/meɪntˈeɪn kˈɑntˌækt/
fixed phrase
Keep communicating with someone
To keep talking or writing to someone over time.
Exemples
- We try to maintain contact with old school friends.
- It's important to maintain contact with clients.
maintain order
1/meɪntˈeɪn ˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
Keep things organized and controlled
To keep people behaving well and things working in an organized way.
Exemples
- The police were called in to maintain order during the protest.
- Teachers must maintain order in the classroom.