Maintain vs. Manage — What's the Difference?

To keep in an existing state of efficiency or validity.

To take charge or care of.

To support or provide for.

To handle, direct, govern, or control in action or use.

To continue or preserve in a continuous state.

To succeed in surviving or attaining one's aims.

To affirm in or as if in argument.

To achieve one's purpose despite difficulties.

To carry on, keep up.

To conduct business or affairs.

Cause or enable (a condition or situation) to continue

Be in charge of (a business, organization, or undertaking); run

Provide with necessities for life or existence

Succeed in surviving or in achieving something despite difficult circumstances; cope

State something strongly to be the case; assert

To have charge of; direct or administer

To keep up or carry on; continue

To exert control over; regulate or limit toward a desired end

To keep in an existing state; preserve or retain

To direct or supervise (employees or other staff)

To keep in a condition of good repair or efficiency

To act as the manager of (a performer, for example).

To provide for; support

To succeed in accomplishing, achieving, or producing, especially with difficulty

To keep in existence; sustain

To succeed in coping or dealing with

To defend or hold against criticism or attack

To direct or conduct business affairs.

To declare to be true; affirm

To continue to get along; carry on; cope

To adhere or conform to; keep

(transitive) To direct or be in charge of.

To support (someone), to back up or assist (someone) in an action.

(transitive) To handle or control (a situation, job).

To keep up; to preserve; to uphold (a state, condition etc.).

(transitive) To handle with skill, wield (a tool, weapon etc.).

To declare or affirm (a clause) to be true; to assert.

(intransitive) To succeed at an attempt in spite of difficulty.

To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain a fence or a railroad; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain present reputation.

(ambitransitive) To achieve (something) without fuss, or without outside help.

To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish.

To manage to say; to say while fighting back embarrassment, laughter, etc.

To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail.

To train (a horse) in the manège; to exercise in graceful or artful action.

To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed.

(obsolete) To treat with care; to husband.

To affirm; to support or defend by argument.

(obsolete) To bring about; to contrive.

Keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g.,

The act of managing or controlling something.

Keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction;

(horseriding) Manège.

Supply with necessities and support;

The handling or government of anything, but esp. of a horse; management; administration. See Manege.

State categorically

To have under control and direction; to conduct; to guide; to administer; to treat; to handle.

Of power or authority

To guide by careful or delicate treatment; to wield with address; to make subservient by artful conduct; to bring around cunningly to one's plans.

Maintain for use and service;

To train in the manege, as a horse; to exercise in graceful or artful action.

Maintain by writing regular records;

To treat with care; to husband.

State or assert;

To bring about; to contrive.

Support against an opponent;

To direct affairs; to carry on business or affairs; to administer.

Observe correctly or closely;

Be successful; achieve a goal;

Be in charge of, act on, or dispose of;

Come to terms or deal successfully with;

Watch and direct;

Achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods

Carry on or manage;

Maintaining is about regular care to prevent damage, while repairing is fixing something that is already broken.

No, maintaining can also refer to non-physical aspects, such as relationships or stability.

Managing a project includes planning, organizing resources, and overseeing the tasks to achieve project goals.

Maintaining a car involves regular servicing and repairs to keep it in good running condition.

Yes, manage can also refer to handling personal challenges or responsibilities effectively.

It can, especially in fields like engineering or IT, where specific knowledge is necessary to maintain systems or equipment.

Technology provides tools for regular diagnostics and updates, essential for maintaining modern systems.

Key skills include leadership, strategic planning, and communication.

Businesses use manage to describe overseeing operations and guiding teams towards business objectives.

The complexity depends on the context, but managing often involves more dynamic decision-making and leadership.

Yes, one can manage health through diet, exercise, and medical supervision.