maintain

verb

To keep up; to preserve; to uphold (a state, condition etc.).

To keep in good condition and working order.

To declare or affirm (a clause) to be true; to assert.

(obsolete, transitive) To support (someone), to back up or assist (someone) in an action.

Roots

manusmain- · Latin · hand teneo-tain · Latin · hold

Synonyms for maintain

keepv sustainv upholdv preservev conservev holdv retainv defendv assertv asseveratev upbear upkeepn perpetuatev continuev protectv remainv

Synonyms & related words for maintain

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of maintain — including keep, sustain, uphold, preserve, conserve, hold. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to maintain

Explore words related to maintain — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include retainable, sustainedly, ensure, exert, establish, observe, reestablish, sustentation. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for maintain

Common synonyms for maintain include keep, sustain, uphold, preserve, conserve, hold, retain, defend — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does maintain come from?

The word maintain breaks down into 2 roots of Latin origin: main-, from Latin manus (“hand”); and -tain, from Latin teneo (“hold”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.