maintain in WordNet English dictionary

1. state categorically
   assert  asseverate  maintain 
   
2. keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction
   "We preserve these archeological findings"; "The old lady could not keep up the building"; "children must be taught to conserve our national heritage"; "The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts"
   conserve  preserve  maintain  keep up 
   
3. state or assert
   "He maintained his innocence"
   maintain  defend 
   
4. have and exercise
   "wield power and authority"
   wield  exert  maintain 
   
5. keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"
   "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady"; "The students keep me on my toes"
   keep  maintain  hold 
   
6. stick to correctly or closely
   "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees"
   observe  keep  maintain 
   
7. maintain by writing regular records
   "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"
   keep  maintain 
   
8. supply with necessities and support
   "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep"
   sustain  keep  maintain 
   
9. maintain for use and service
   "I keep a car in the countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips"
   keep  maintain 
   
10. support against an opponent
    "The appellate court upheld the verdict"
    uphold  maintain