maintain
To keep something in good working order or to keep a situation the same.
Explanation at your level:
To maintain means to keep something the same. If you have a clean room, you maintain it by cleaning it every day. You want to keep it nice. You can also maintain a speed when you ride your bike. You do not go fast, and you do not go slow. You keep the same speed.
When you maintain something, you look after it so it stays in good condition. For example, you maintain your car by taking it to a mechanic. You can also maintain a conversation with a friend by talking about different things. It means you keep the activity going for a long time.
In this level, maintain is often used for abstract things. You might maintain a high level of performance at work or school. It implies effort. You are not just letting things happen; you are actively working to keep a standard or a situation stable. It is a very useful word for describing consistency.
At this level, you will see maintain used in more formal contexts, such as maintaining an argument or maintaining a position in a debate. It suggests that you are firmly holding onto your belief or status despite outside pressure. It conveys a sense of strength and persistence in your actions.
Maintain is frequently used in academic and professional writing to describe the preservation of systems or data. For instance, a scientist might maintain a controlled environment in a lab. It also carries a nuanced meaning of 'asserting' or 'claiming' something, as in 'he maintained that he was innocent.' This usage is common in legal or formal reporting.
In mastery, maintain encompasses the full depth of its etymology—the idea of 'holding' something in existence. It can refer to maintaining a household, which implies financial and social support, or maintaining a facade, which suggests a psychological effort to keep up appearances. It is a versatile verb that bridges the gap between physical maintenance and the preservation of complex social or intellectual constructs.
30초 단어
- Means to keep something in good condition.
- Means to keep a situation the same.
- Comes from Latin 'manu' (hand) and 'tenere' (hold).
- More formal than 'keep'.
Hey there! Think of maintain as the secret ingredient to keeping things running smoothly. Whether you are talking about a car that needs an oil change or a friendship that requires regular check-ins, you are maintaining something.
At its heart, this word is about persistence and care. When you maintain a machine, you are preventing it from breaking down. When you maintain a steady pace while running, you are refusing to slow down. It is a powerful verb that shows you are in control of keeping things exactly where they need to be!
The word maintain has a fascinating journey through time. It comes from the Old French word maintenir, which itself is a combination of two Latin words: manu (hand) and tenere (to hold).
Literally, it meant to hold in the hand. Think about it—if you are holding something firmly in your hand, you are preventing it from falling or changing position. Over the centuries, this physical act of holding evolved into the abstract concept of keeping a situation, a standard, or a piece of equipment in a stable state. It is a perfect example of how our language turns physical actions into complex ideas!
You will hear maintain in many different settings. In a professional or technical sense, we often talk about maintaining equipment or maintaining standards. It sounds very reliable and responsible.
In casual conversation, you might use it when talking about your lifestyle, like maintaining a healthy weight or maintaining a positive attitude. It is slightly more formal than saying 'keep,' so using it can make your speech sound a bit more polished and precise. Just remember: if you can replace it with 'keep,' you are probably on the right track!
While maintain is a formal verb, it appears in many common phrases. 1. Maintain order: To keep things calm and controlled. 2. Maintain a low profile: To avoid attracting attention. 3. Maintain the status quo: To keep things exactly as they are currently. 4. Maintain contact: To keep communicating with someone. 5. Maintain focus: To keep your attention on a specific goal.
Maintain is a regular verb. Its past tense and past participle form is maintained, and its present participle is maintaining. The stress is on the second syllable: main-TAIN.
Phonetically, it is /meɪnˈteɪn/ in both British and American English. It rhymes with words like attain, explain, obtain, refrain, and sustain. When using it in a sentence, it is almost always followed by a noun, such as 'maintain the building' or 'maintain the speed'.
Fun Fact
The root 'manu' (hand) is the same root found in 'manual'!
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'main' sound followed by 'tain'.
Similar to UK, stress on the second syllable.
Common Errors
- Stressing the first syllable
- Pronouncing it like 'mountain'
- Dropping the final 'n'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common word
Standard verb
Easy to pronounce
Clear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
고급
Grammar to Know
Verb Tenses
He maintains, he maintained, he is maintaining.
Noun Formation
Maintain -> Maintenance.
Reporting Verbs
He maintained that he was innocent.
Examples by Level
I maintain my room.
keep clean
Simple present
He maintains a steady speed.
does not change
3rd person singular
We maintain the garden.
take care of
Verb + object
They maintain the rules.
keep following
Plural subject
She maintains her health.
stays healthy
Verb + object
I maintain my bike.
fix and clean
Simple present
They maintain the house.
keep in good shape
Verb + object
We maintain our focus.
stay attentive
Verb + object
I work hard to maintain my grades.
The company maintains high quality standards.
He maintains a positive attitude every day.
We need to maintain this path.
She maintains her car regularly.
They maintain contact with their family.
It is hard to maintain a perfect garden.
The city maintains the public parks.
The pilot maintained a steady altitude.
She maintained that she was telling the truth.
We must maintain our current level of production.
The government aims to maintain economic stability.
He struggles to maintain a balance between work and life.
The bridge requires constant maintenance.
They maintained their innocence throughout the trial.
It is vital to maintain a good relationship with clients.
The athlete maintained his lead until the very end.
The architect designed the building to maintain its structural integrity.
She maintained a calm demeanor despite the crisis.
The organization maintains a database of all members.
He maintained that the policy was fundamentally flawed.
We are trying to maintain the status quo for now.
The server maintains a connection to the internet.
They have maintained their friendship for over twenty years.
The historian maintained that the event was a turning point.
The company is struggling to maintain its market share.
He maintained a stoic silence during the interrogation.
The project aims to maintain biodiversity in the region.
She maintained a consistent argument throughout the essay.
The system is designed to maintain pressure at all times.
They maintained their commitment to the original plan.
The diplomatic mission seeks to maintain peace in the region.
The artist maintained a singular vision throughout his career.
The regime maintained its grip on power through strict laws.
She maintained the fiction that she was wealthy.
The theory maintains that energy cannot be destroyed.
He maintained a facade of indifference to hide his pain.
The institution maintains a legacy of academic excellence.
They maintained a delicate balance of power in the region.
The narrative maintains a sense of urgency from start to finish.
자주 쓰는 조합
Idioms & Expressions
"maintain a low profile"
to avoid being noticed
He decided to maintain a low profile after the scandal.
neutral"maintain the status quo"
to keep things as they are
The board wants to maintain the status quo.
formal"maintain a stiff upper lip"
to be brave in a difficult situation
She maintained a stiff upper lip despite the bad news.
idiomatic"maintain appearances"
to act as if everything is fine
They tried to maintain appearances for the neighbors.
neutral"maintain a steady hand"
to remain calm and precise
The surgeon maintained a steady hand during the operation.
neutral"maintain one's composure"
to stay calm
She managed to maintain her composure during the interview.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar sound
Obtain = get, Maintain = keep
I will obtain the book, then I will maintain it.
Similar ending
Sustain = endure/support, Maintain = preserve
He sustained an injury; he maintains his health.
Similar ending
Retain = keep possession, Maintain = keep condition
I retained the receipt; I maintain my car.
Similar ending
Contain = have inside, Maintain = keep state
The box contains items; I maintain the box.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + maintain + noun
He maintains his car.
Subject + maintain + that + clause
She maintains that she is right.
Subject + maintain + adj (rare)
The room remained maintained.
Maintain + object + preposition
Maintain order in the room.
Maintain + gerund
He maintains working hard.
어휘 가족
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
관련
How to Use It
8/10
Formality Scale
자주 하는 실수
Maintain sounds too formal for simple things like 'keep your keys'.
The noun form changes spelling to 'ten'.
Maintain is for condition/status.
Maintain means to keep.
Maintenance prevents the need for repair.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a 'main' gear in a machine being oiled.
When Native Speakers Use It
In professional meetings about standards.
Cultural Insight
Often used in 'maintaining the status quo' in politics.
Grammar Shortcut
Always followed by a noun or a 'that' clause.
Say It Right
Stress the second syllable!
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse it with 'obtain' (to get).
Did You Know?
It comes from 'hand-holding'.
Study Smart
Learn 'maintain' and 'maintenance' together.
Context Tip
Use it to sound more precise than 'keep'.
Verb Pattern
Maintain + object + adjective is rare; use 'maintain + object'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Main-tain: Imagine holding a 'main' (important) object 'in' your hand to 'tain' (retain) it.
Visual Association
A mechanic working on a car.
Word Web
챌린지
Try saying 'I maintain my focus' three times today.
어원
Old French / Latin
Original meaning: To hold in the hand
문화적 맥락
None
Used heavily in business and engineering contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- maintain standards
- maintain focus
- maintain productivity
At home
- maintain the house
- maintain a routine
- maintain cleanliness
Sports
- maintain the lead
- maintain speed
- maintain energy
Debates
- maintain a position
- maintain an argument
- maintain composure
Conversation Starters
"How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle?"
"Is it hard to maintain your focus when studying?"
"What is the most difficult thing to maintain in your life?"
"Why do you think it is important to maintain friendships?"
"How do you maintain your car or bike?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a routine you try to maintain every day.
Write about a time you had to maintain your composure.
Why is it important to maintain old buildings?
What is one thing you find very hard to maintain?
자주 묻는 질문
8 질문No, maintain is preventing the need for repair.
Usually not, unless you mean supporting them financially.
Maintenance.
Yes, it is more formal than keep.
Yes, etymologically it does.
We usually say 'keep a secret'.
main-TAIN.
Yes.
셀프 테스트
I ___ my room clean.
Maintain means to keep in a state.
Which means to keep something working?
Maintain is the opposite of break.
Maintain can mean to claim something is true.
He maintained that he was right.
Word
뜻
Synonyms and antonyms.
It is hard to maintain focus.
The company needs to ___ its reputation.
Maintain is used for positive things like reputation.
Which is a synonym for maintain?
Preserve is a formal synonym.
Maintenance is the verb form.
Maintenance is the noun.
He maintained that he was innocent.
She ___ a facade of calm.
Maintain a facade is a common collocation.
점수: /10
Summary
Maintain is about using effort to keep things exactly where they should be.
- Means to keep something in good condition.
- Means to keep a situation the same.
- Comes from Latin 'manu' (hand) and 'tenere' (hold).
- More formal than 'keep'.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a 'main' gear in a machine being oiled.
When Native Speakers Use It
In professional meetings about standards.
Cultural Insight
Often used in 'maintaining the status quo' in politics.
Grammar Shortcut
Always followed by a noun or a 'that' clause.
예시
You should maintain your car by changing the oil every six months.
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