maintain its form

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain its form" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the preservation of the shape, structure, or appearance of an object or concept over time. Example: "The sculpture was designed to withstand the elements and maintain its form for many years."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"I don't know what they are putting in it today but you can walk from the East Village to Central Park and it will maintain its form like a beehive hairdo," said Mr. Tillman, who opened ChikaLicious Dessert Club five months ago, across the street from the ChikaLicious Dessert Bar.

The New York Times - Food

Blimp, nonrigid or semirigid airship dependent on internal gas pressure to maintain its form.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Furthermore, the ideal implant should interact favorably with the surrounding tissues; maintain its form over time; resist trauma, infection, and extrusion; and remain easy to remove.

Nanoscale Research Letters

First, bone tissue is induced in muscle by bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) with betatricalcium phosphate as a carrier to maintain its form in the muscle.

Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Later that night, the carnival in the Rhine was echoed in Valencia, as it maintained its form in La Liga by beating the tough Basques, Athletic Bilbao, 2-1.

The New York Times - Sports

Folly for a Flyover, London Assemble, maker of the 2010 hit Cineroleum, maintained its form with this temporary cinema/bar/performance space under an elevated section of the A12.

The Guardian

Though Singaporeans grumble about the rising cost of living, their incomes and the public services they enjoy compare favourably with those anywhere else in South-East Asia.But how has the PAP maintained its form, when dominant parties elsewhere have become flabby and corrupt for want of a strong opposition to keep them nimble?

The Economist

The storm languished while moving quickly west, and struggled with maintaining its form.

Wikipedia

It's fucking freezing in Melbourne at the moment so there's not as much development as there might be if we had some hot sun to stir things up, but all the moist ingredients have eventually melded into a cloudy, pus-like layer at the bottom while the dog and human waste has maintained its form and asserted its position as second layer in the jar.

Vice

LONDON — Real Madrid will qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League if it can maintain its supreme form and complete a Group G double over A.C. Milan in the standout match of the tournament this week.

The New York Times - Sports

Another element could be that some emotions are difficult to maintain its pure form when expressing them in a song.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain its form", consider the specific context to ensure that the word "form" accurately reflects what you intend to preserve: shape, structure, appearance or a combination thereof.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain its form" when describing abstract concepts where "form" can be vague. Instead, opt for more precise terms like "preserve its integrity" or "uphold its principles" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain its form" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "maintain" is the main verb and "its form" serves as the object. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maintain its form" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the act of preserving the shape, structure, or condition of something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While it appears across various contexts, including science, news, and encyclopedias, it's essential to consider the specific nuance you wish to convey. For instance, "preserve its shape" emphasizes the external outline, while "retain its structure" highlights the internal arrangement. When writing, be mindful of the context and use more precise terms if needed, especially in abstract settings, to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preserve its shape

Emphasizes keeping the external outline unchanged.

retain its structure

Highlights maintaining the internal arrangement and components.

keep its integrity

Focuses on preserving the completeness and soundness.

hold its shape

Suggests a more active effort in maintaining the form against external forces.

uphold its design

Emphasizes adherence to the original plan or pattern.

sustain its appearance

Highlights maintaining the outward look or visual aspect.

conserve its figure

Focuses on retaining a specific, often aesthetic, outline.

prevent deformation

Indicates proactive measures to avoid changes in shape.

avoid disintegration

Focuses on preventing the breakdown of the form.

ensure stability

Highlights the act of guaranteeing the firmness of structure.

FAQs

What does "maintain its form" mean?

The phrase "maintain its form" means to keep something in its current shape, structure, or condition, preventing it from changing or deteriorating.

What are some synonyms for "maintain its form"?

Alternatives to "maintain its form" include "preserve its shape", "retain its structure", or "keep its integrity" depending on the context.

How can I use "maintain its form" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain its form" to describe physical objects (e.g., "The sculpture is designed to maintain its form over time") or abstract concepts (e.g., "The organization strives to maintain its original form and mission").

Is it better to say "maintain its form" or "retain its form"?

Both "maintain its form" and "retain its form" are correct, but "maintain" suggests an ongoing effort to preserve the form, while "retain" simply implies keeping it. The best choice depends on the specific context.