maintain power

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain power" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a variety of contexts to mean "to sustain or continue to have control or authority". For example, you could say "The police force is determined to maintain power in the city".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many families keep home generators to maintain power.

The Guardian

The regime, determined to maintain power, would not simply fold.

The New Yorker

Besides, they add, Mr. James is no different from any other politician seeking to maintain power.

The New York Times

His only political agenda was to maintain calm and maintain power.

The Guardian

In Haiti, when someone gets into power they use these forces to maintain power".

The New York Times

Everyone knew what the Syrian government was capable of and willing to do to maintain power.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The government knows it's probably going to need those gangs to maintain power".

The New Yorker

General Musharraf demanded military aid that could help him maintain power — and got it.

The New York Times

This command combination will maintain power so long as the people have bread.

The New York Times

But they still maintain power structures from within, by predominantly funding only "pre-selected" organisations.

The Guardian

The country's relatively new Liberal government needs support from opposition parties to maintain power.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing political strategies or leadership, use "maintain power" to emphasize the active effort required to sustain authority or control. For instance, "The dictator used propaganda to maintain power over the populace."

Common error

Avoid using "maintain power" when referring to simple sustenance or upkeep. For example, instead of "The generator helps maintain power to the house", it is better to say "The generator keeps the house powered" or "The generator maintains the electricity supply to the house".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain power" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "maintain" is the verb and "power" is the noun. It describes the action of sustaining or preserving control, authority, or energy. Ludwig AI confirms this through its analysis of example sentences, showcasing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maintain power" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of sustaining control, authority, or energy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and encyclopedia contexts. It's crucial to use it when the context involves actively preventing a loss of dominance or functionality, differentiating it from mere sustenance. While it can be used in various scenarios, it is best suited for neutral registers. Related phrases like "retain control" and "preserve authority" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas, each with a slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

retain control

Focuses more on the aspect of control rather than overall power.

preserve authority

Emphasizes the preservation of official or legal authority.

sustain influence

Highlights the continuation of having an effect on someone or something.

hold onto power

Suggests a tenacious grip on existing power.

keep the upper hand

Implies maintaining a position of advantage or dominance.

ensure dominance

Highlights the act of making certain that dominance continues.

uphold command

Suggests actively defending or supporting one's position of command.

secure leadership

Emphasizes the action of making leadership position safe and stable.

continue ruling

Focuses specifically on the continuation of governance.

prevent collapse

Highlights preventing the downfall of a system or entity.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain power" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain power" to describe efforts to sustain authority, control, or energy, as in "The government used various tactics to maintain power" or "The backup generator helps maintain power during outages".

What are some alternatives to saying "maintain power"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "retain control", "preserve authority", or "sustain influence".

Is it correct to say "maintained power" instead of "maintain power"?

"Maintained power" is the past tense form of the verb phrase. Use "maintained power" when referring to a past action or state of sustaining authority or energy, and "maintain power" when referring to a present or future action.

What's the difference between "maintain power" and "gain power"?

"Maintain power" refers to sustaining or continuing to have control or authority, while "gain power" refers to acquiring or obtaining control or authority.