{
    "term": "maintain",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "maintain",
            "heSheIt": "maintains"
        },
        "pastSimple": "maintained",
        "pastParticiple": "maintained",
        "ingForm": "maintaining"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to make something continue at the same level, standard, etc.",
            "sensetop": "maintain something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to maintain law and order/standards/a balance/control"
                },
                {
                    "text": "ANU has maintained its position as Australia's top university."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The two countries have always maintained close relations."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She maintained a dignified silence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to maintain prices *(= prevent them from falling or rising)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Building and maintaining good relationships is an important part of what we do."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He emphasized the need to maintain the status quo."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She successfully maintained the financial health of the company."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government's position became increasingly difficult to maintain."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are looking to cut costs while simultaneously maintaining the existing levels of service."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This pace cannot be maintained indefinitely."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Security personnel struggled to maintain order."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Email is used to maintain contact with members."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "preserve",
            "collocations": {
                "verb + maintain": ["be anxious to", "want to", "have to"],
                "adverb": ["indefinitely", "simultaneously", "successfully"],
                "phrases": [
                    "the duty to maintain something",
                    "the need to maintain something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to keep a building, a machine, etc. in good condition by checking or repairing it regularly",
            "sensetop": "maintain something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The house is large and difficult to maintain."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a poorly maintained central heating system"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I do a lot of mechanical work and I maintain my own car."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The grounds are beautifully maintained."
                },
                {
                    "text": "As long as you maintain the brakes, chain and battery, repair costs are minimal for electric bicycles."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Buildings"],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["carefully", "properly", "well"],
                "verb + maintain": ["be difficult to", "be easy to"],
                "phrases": ["be responsible for maintaining something"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to support somebody/something over a long period of time by giving money, paying for food, etc.",
            "sensetop": "maintain somebody/something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Her income was barely enough to maintain one child, let alone three."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His priority is to maintain and protect his family."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She could no longer afford to maintain her horse."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Maintaining a modern, well-equipped armed force is a challenge."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "keep"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to keep stating that something is true, even though other people do not agree or do not believe it",
            "sensetop": "maintain (that)…maintain something+ speech",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The men maintained (that) they were out of the country when the crime was committed.",
                    "contextForm": "maintain (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is difficult to maintain that such a harsh punishment was justified."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has always **maintained her innocence**.",
                    "contextForm": "maintain something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘But I'm innocent!’ she maintained.",
                    "contextForm": "+ speech"
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "insist",
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪn/",
                "audio": "ma/maintain/maintain__gb_3.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnz/",
                "audio": "ma/maintain/maintains__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnd/",
                "audio": "ma/maintain/maintained__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ma/maintain/maintaining__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪn/",
                "audio": "ma/maintain/maintain__us_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnz/",
                "audio": "ma/maintain/maintains__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnd/",
                "audio": "ma/maintain/maintained__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ma/maintain/maintaining__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English (also in the sense ‘practise an action habitually’): from Old French maintenir, from Latin manu tenere ‘hold in the hand’."
}