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keep
[keep]
verb (used with object)
to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own.
If you like it, keep it. Keep the change.
to hold or have the use of for a period of time.
You can keep it for the summer.
to hold in a given place; store.
You can keep your things in here.
to maintain (some action), especially in accordance with specific requirements, a promise, etc..
to keep watch; to keep step.
to cause to continue in a given position, state, course, or action.
to keep a light burning; to keep a child happy.
to maintain in condition or order, as by care and labor.
He keeps his car in good condition.
Synonyms: preserveto maintain in usable or edible condition; preserve.
If you want to keep meat for a long time, freeze it.
to hold in custody or under guard, as a prisoner.
They kept him in jail.
Antonyms: releaseto cause to stay in a particular place; prevent or restrain from departure.
The work kept her at the office.
to have regularly in stock and for sale.
to keep a large supply of machine parts.
to maintain in one's service or for one's use or enjoyment.
to keep a car and chauffeur.
to associate with.
She keeps bad company.
to have the care, charge, or custody of.
She keeps my dog when I travel.
to refrain from disclosing; withhold from the knowledge of others.
to keep a secret.
to withhold from use; reserve; save.
I'll keep this toy until you learn to behave. Keep the good wine for company.
to hold back or restrain.
They kept the child from talking. Nothing can keep him from doing it.
to maintain control of; regulate.
to keep the peace; to keep your temper.
to maintain by writing.
to keep a diary.
to record (business transactions, daily occurrences, etc.) regularly.
to keep records; to keep a list of visitors.
to observe; pay obedient regard to (a law, rule, promise, etc.).
to conform to; follow; fulfill.
to keep one's word.
to observe (a season, festival, etc.) with formalities or rites.
to keep Christmas.
to maintain or carry on, as an establishment, business, etc.; manage.
to guard; protect.
He kept her from harm.
to maintain or support.
It costs more each year to keep a house.
to support or contribute to the support of in return for sexual or other favors.
to take care of; tend.
to keep a vegetable garden.
to raise (livestock).
These farmers keep goats and cattle.
to remain in (a place, spot, etc.).
Please keep your seats.
to maintain one's position in or on.
He kept the job.
to continue to follow (a path, track, course, etc.).
to maintain in active existence, as an assembly, court, or fair.
verb (used without object)
to continue in an action, course, position, state, etc..
to keep in sight; to keep going.
to remain, or continue to be, as specified.
to keep cool.
to remain or stay in a particular place.
to keep indoors.
to continue unimpaired or without spoiling.
The food will keep on ice.
to admit of being reserved for a future occasion.
I have more to tell you, but it will keep.
to keep oneself or itself as specified (followed by away, back, off, out, etc.).
Keep off the grass.
to restrain oneself; refrain (usually followed byfrom ).
Try to keep from smiling.
noun
board and lodging; subsistence; support.
to work for one's keep.
the innermost and strongest structure or central tower of a medieval castle.
(used with a singular verb), keeps, a game of marbles in which the players keep the marbles they have won.
verb phrase
keep to
to adhere to; conform to.
She keeps to the rules.
to confine oneself to.
to keep to one's bed.
keep up
to maintain an equal rate of speed, activity, or progress with another or others.
to persevere; continue.
to maintain the good condition of; keep in repair.
Also keep up onwith. to stay informed.
to keep up on current events.
to match one's friends, neighbors, business associates, etc., in success, affluence, etc.
keep on, to continue; persist.
If you keep on singing they'll ask you to leave.
keep in with, to stay in someone's favor; be on good terms with.
They are social climbers who make certain to keep in with all the right people.
keep down
to hold under control or at a reduced or acceptable level.
to keep your voice down.
to prevent from going up or increasing.
to keep prices down.
keep back
to hold in check; restrain.
The dikes kept back the floodwaters.
to stay away from.
The crowds would not keep back from the barrier.
to refuse to reveal.
The prisoner was keeping back vital information.
keep at, to persist in; be steadfast.
You'll never master your French unless you keep at it.
keep
/ kiːp /
verb
(tr) to have or retain possession of
(tr) to have temporary possession or charge of
keep my watch for me during the game
(tr) to store in a customary place
I keep my books in the desk
to remain or cause to remain in a specified state or condition
keep the dog quiet
keep ready
to continue or cause to continue
keep the beat
keep in step
(tr) to have or take charge or care of
keep the shop for me till I return
(tr) to look after or maintain for use, pleasure, etc
to keep chickens
keep two cars
(tr) to provide for the upkeep or livelihood of
(tr) to support financially, esp in return for sexual favours
he keeps a mistress in the country
to confine or detain or be confined or detained
to withhold or reserve or admit of withholding or reserving
your news will keep till later
(tr) to refrain from divulging or violating
to keep a secret
keep one's word
to preserve or admit of preservation
to observe with due rites or ceremonies
to keep Christmas
(tr) to maintain by writing regular records in
to keep a diary
to stay in, on, or at (a place or position)
please keep your seats
keep to the path
(tr) to associate with (esp in the phrase keep bad company )
(tr) to maintain in existence
to keep court in the palace
(tr) to have habitually in stock
this shop keeps all kinds of wool
how are you?
informal, to keep a watchful eye on
See track
See time
to play as wicketkeeper in the game of cricket
informal, I have no interest in what you are offering
noun
living or support
he must work for his keep
archaic, charge or care
Also called: dungeon. donjon. the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
informal
completely; permanently
for the winner or possessor to keep permanently
Other Word Forms
- keepable adjective
- keepability noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of keep1
Word History and Origins
Origin of keep1
Idioms and Phrases
keep track of. track.
keep books, to maintain financial records.
keep to oneself,
to remain aloof from the society of others.
to hold (something) as secret or confidential.
I'll tell you only if you promise to keep it to yourself.
keep time. time.
keep tab / tabs on. tab.
for keeps,
under the stipulation that one keeps one's winnings.
with serious intent or purpose.
finally; permanently.
They decided to settle the argument for keeps.
More idioms and phrases containing keep
- (keep someone) in the dark
- earn one's keep
- finders keepers, losers weepers
- for keeps
- in keeping
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
In the video, the DOJ official also suggested that Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was recently moved to a lower-security prison as part of a deal to keep her quiet.
Once they regained their master tapes, they licensed their catalog to reissue labels and kept a vigilant eye on how their recordings were disseminated in the marketplace.
Scotland battled hard and deserved a point after a shaky start where they continually failed to keep the ball.
This is in keeping with the “Alien” yen for leaving no cat or Newt behind.
"It wasn't the best level of the tournament for me but I kept a cool head from the beginning and the last point."
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When To Use
Keep means to hold on to something and not let it leave your possession. Keep can also mean to store something in a certain place. And keep can mean to continue an action or to remain in a certain state. Keep has many other senses as a verb and a few as a noun and is used in a large number of idioms.If you keep something, it means that you are making sure it stays yours and doesn’t leave your possession. For example, if you don’t give money to someone, then you are keeping it. The past tense of keep is kept.
- Real-life examples: Most people prefer to keep money rather than give it away or spend it. If a childhood toy means a lot to you, you probably want to keep it and not throw it away. If nobody claims a lost item, then the store or police will usually let the finder keep it.
- Used in a sentence: I’m going to keep this old hat I found rather than throw it away.
- Real-life examples: Almost everyone keeps perishable food in a refrigerator. You might keep your clothes on the floor, although your mom wants them in a dresser. People keep money in a safe or bank account. The police keep prisoners in jail.
- Used in a sentence: Aylia keeps her priceless jewelry in a lockbox.
- Real-life examples: A business will keep making money as long as it can. Most pets will keep staring at you until you either finish eating or give them some food. The moon will keep rotating around Earth unless something stops it.
- Used in a sentence: Sasha is persistent and will keep hitting that piñata until candy comes out.
- Real-life examples: People store ice cream in a freezer so it keeps cold. Most people find it hard to keep calm during a crisis. People wear jackets or use umbrellas to keep dry during a rainstorm.
- Used in a sentence: The men gathered around the fire to keep warm.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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