From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmaintainmain‧tain /meɪnˈteɪn, mən-/ ●●● S2 W1 AWL verb [transitive] 1 make something continueCONTINUE/NOT STOP to make something continue in the same way or at the same standard as before Careers Officers maintain contact with young people when they have left school. Britain wants to maintain its position as a world power. A lot depends on building and maintaining a good relationship with your customers. The hotel prides itself on maintaining high standards. How can we maintain control of spending?2 level/rateCONTINUE/NOT STOP to make a level or rate of activity, movement etc stay the same It is important to maintain a constant temperature inside the greenhouse. This is the most efficient way to build up and maintain a reasonable level of physical fitness.3 saySAY/STATE to strongly express your belief that something is true SYN claimmaintain (that) Critics maintain that these reforms will lead to a decline in educational standards.maintain your innocence (=say that you did not commit a crime) He maintained his innocence and said the allegations were ‘ridiculous’.4 look after somethingLOOK AFTER something to keep a machine, building etc in good condition by checking and repairing it regularly The report found that safety equipment had been very poorly maintained. The company is responsible for maintaining public telephone boxes.5 provide money/foodPAY FOR to provide someone with the things they need, such as money or food SYN provide for How can you maintain a family on $900 a month?→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
maintain• Once learned, values must be maintained.• Cox said he and his wife, Chrissy, were "trying to just maintain."• Air France has maintained a high level of service for many years.• It's hard to do this job and still maintain a marriage.• Dieters should try to reach and maintain a reasonable weight.• Simple mechanical devices were placed in the test room to maintain an accurate record of output.• King lives in Chicago but maintains an apartment in New York.• It is surely a question of maintaining an appropriate balance, and is not something that can be taken for granted.• Barges of Lee's fleet were always well maintained and were never over-loaded.• Volkswagen has maintained close business ties with them for over 20 years.• His first job was installing and maintaining computers.• It is best if divorced parents can maintain friendly relations for the sake of the children.• We want to maintain our sense of status.• They're finding it difficult to maintain such high interest rates.• This is cheaper than pure goose down but like all down bags maintains superb loft capacity.• My mother always maintains that I learned to talk at six months.• Residents work in the downstairs shop, and also help to maintain the building.• An attempt was being made to maintain the grounds, but weeds were starting to grow in the driveway.• Ball maintains the prerequisite glum visage, but he's clearly happy standing behind his bank of electronic equipment.• His role is to maintain the society's fleet of vans, ready to respond in any emergency.• Throughout this history the two sides have maintained two distinct takes on hacking.• Our main wish is to help maintain world peace.• The authors of "Superdiet' maintain you can lose pounds without eating less.maintain your innocence• He is pleasant, quite soft-spoken and a personable gentleman who maintains his innocence.• Both men maintain their innocence and are fighting extradition.• It will be said that children should maintain their innocence and should be protected from such distressing subjects as bereavement.• The four have maintained their innocence of the charges.From Longman Business Dictionarymaintainmain‧tain /meɪnˈteɪn, mən-/ verb [transitive]1to make something continue in the same way or at the same high standard as beforeIt is impossible to maintain exports at past levels.To maintain sales growth, the company plans to unveil a new line of bicycles.2to keep something such as a building or machine in good condition by taking care of itThey maintain the computer and telephone equipment in the building.3to provide someone with money, food, and the other things they needthe ever-increasing cost of maintaining children→ See Verb tableOrigin maintain (1200-1300) Old French maintenir, from Latin manu tenere “to hold in the hand” 