# maintained

/meɪnˈteɪnd/ (US) · /meɪntˈeɪnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/maintained
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. kept in good condition

verb · CEFR B2

to have looked after something so that it stays in good working order.

For teachers: to have performed regular repairs or checks to keep a physical object or system in a functional state.

- The old car was well maintained and still ran perfectly after twenty years.
- The engineering team maintained the bridge throughout the decade, ensuring that structural fatigue never compromised the safety of the commuters.

Usage: often used in the passive voice to describe infrastructure or machinery.

### 2. asserted or claimed

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to have continued to say that something is true, even if others disagree.

For teachers: to have asserted a position or claim strongly and consistently.

- He maintained that he was innocent even after the police showed him the evidence.
- Throughout the cross-examination, the witness maintained that she had seen the defendant leave the building shortly before the alarm sounded.

Usage: often followed by a 'that' clause.

### 3. continued a state

verb · CEFR B2

to have kept something going at the same level or speed.

For teachers: to have caused a process or state to continue without a decrease in intensity or quality.

- The runner maintained a steady pace for the entire marathon.
- The security forces maintained order during the protest, preventing the situation from escalating into a violent confrontation.

Usage: frequently used with abstract nouns like 'silence', 'order', or 'speed'.

### 4. well-kept

adjective · CEFR B2

describing something that is clean, tidy, and in good repair.

For teachers: characterised by regular care and attention to detail; often used in real estate or technical contexts.

- The house had a beautifully maintained garden with no weeds in sight.
- The facility was a model of a maintained environment, where every piece of equipment was calibrated and polished daily.

## Examples

- The city workers maintained the park perfectly all summer.
- The airline maintained its fleet of planes to the highest safety standards to prevent any mechanical failures.
- Throughout the lengthy investigation, the suspect maintained that he had been at home during the robbery, despite several witnesses claiming to have seen him near the bank.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.