✔ To keep something in an existing state (from decline, making repairs, correcting problems)
- We need to maintain discipline in class
- I am going to maintain my manly beauty.
- You should maintain your car once a year
- He couldn't maintain his diet so he turned into a fat bastard.
✔ To affirm an argument (assert):
- He maintained that he didn't kill the chicken!
-We used to maintain that the world was flat!
✔ To provide for:
- Excuse me, but I have a family to maintain!
● Other examples: (learn some of these common collocations by heart):
- They have always maintained high standards of professional conduct.
- He has found it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
- The company has done a poor job of maintaining its computer network.
- It was obvious that the house had been poorly maintained.
- She was finding it hard to maintain her balance.
- She still maintains a close relationship with her college roommate.
- It's difficult to maintain a correspondence when we're both so busy.
- The pilot was struggling to maintain control of the aircraft.
- The police say that they will do whatever is necessary to maintain law and order.
● Noun: Maintenance:
- The building has suffered from years of poor maintenance.
- The costs of routine car maintenance
- Maintenance of law and order
- Money for the family's maintenance