keep

[ keep ]

verb (used with object)

, kept, keep·ing.

1. to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own:

   If you like it, keep it. Keep the change.

2. to hold or have the use of for a period of time:

   You can keep it for the summer.

3. to hold in a given place; store:

   You can keep your things in here.

4. to maintain (some action), especially in accordance with specific requirements, a promise, etc.:

   to keep watch; to keep step.

5. to cause to continue in a given position, state, course, or action:

   to keep a light burning; to keep a child happy.

6. to maintain in condition or order, as by care and labor:

   He keeps his car in good condition.

   Synonyms: preserve

7. to maintain in usable or edible condition; preserve:

   If you want to keep meat for a long time, freeze it.

8. to hold in custody or under guard, as a prisoner:

   They kept him in jail.

   Synonyms: confine, detain

   Antonyms: release

9. to cause to stay in a particular place; prevent or restrain from departure:

   The work kept her at the office.

10. to have regularly in stock and for sale:

    to keep a large supply of machine parts.

11. to maintain in one's service or for one's use or enjoyment:

    to keep a car and chauffeur.

12. to associate with:

    She keeps bad company.

13. to have the care, charge, or custody of:

    She keeps my dog when I travel.

14. to refrain from disclosing; withhold from the knowledge of others:

    to keep a secret.

15. to withhold from use; reserve; save:

    I'll keep this toy until you learn to behave. Keep the good wine for company.

16. to hold back or restrain:

    They kept the child from talking. Nothing can keep him from doing it.

17. to maintain control of; regulate:

    to keep the peace; to keep your temper.

18. to maintain by writing:

    to keep a diary.

19. to record (business transactions, daily occurrences, etc.) regularly:

    to keep records; to keep a list of visitors.

20. to observe; pay obedient regard to (a law, rule, promise, etc.).
21. to conform to; follow; fulfill:

    to keep one's word.

22. to observe (a season, festival, etc.) with formalities or rites:

    to keep Christmas.

23. to maintain or carry on, as an establishment, business, etc.; manage.
24. to guard; protect:

    He kept her from harm.

25. to maintain or support:

    It costs more each year to keep a house.

26. to support or contribute to the support of in return for sexual or other favors.
27. to take care of; tend:

    to keep a vegetable garden.

28. to raise (livestock):

    These farmers keep goats and cattle.

29. to remain in (a place, spot, etc.):

    Please keep your seats.

30. to maintain one's position in or on:

    He kept the job.

31. to continue to follow (a path, track, course, etc.).
32. to maintain in active existence, as an assembly, court, or fair.

verb (used without object)

, kept, keep·ing.

1. to continue in an action, course, position, state, etc.:

   to keep in sight; to keep going.

2. to remain, or continue to be, as specified:

   to keep cool.

3. to remain or stay in a particular place:

   to keep indoors.

4. to continue unimpaired or without spoiling:

   The food will keep on ice.

5. to admit of being reserved for a future occasion:

   I have more to tell you, but it will keep.

6. to keep oneself or itself as specified (followed by away, back, off, out, etc.):

   Keep off the grass.

7. to restrain oneself; refrain (usually followed by from ):

   Try to keep from smiling.

noun

1. board and lodging; subsistence; support:

   to work for one's keep.

2. the innermost and strongest structure or central tower of a medieval castle.

   Synonyms: stronghold, dungeon, donjon

3. keeps, (used with a singular verb) a game of marbles in which the players keep the marbles they have won.

verb phrase

1. 1. to hold under control or at a reduced or acceptable level:

      to keep your voice down.

   2. to prevent from going up or increasing:

      to keep prices down.

2. 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.

3. 1. to hold in check; restrain:

      The dikes kept back the floodwaters.

   2. to stay away from:

      The crowds would not keep back from the barrier.

   3. to refuse to reveal:

      The prisoner was keeping back vital information.

4. to continue; persist:

   If you keep on singing they'll ask you to leave.

5. 1. to maintain an equal rate of speed, activity, or progress with another or others.
   2. to persevere; continue.
   3. to maintain the good condition of; keep in repair.
   4. Also keep up onwith. to stay informed:

      to keep up on current events.

   5. to match one's friends, neighbors, business associates, etc., in success, affluence, etc.
6. to persist in; be steadfast:

   You'll never master your French unless you keep at it.

7. 1. to adhere to; conform to:

      She keeps to the rules.

   2. to confine oneself to:

      to keep to one's bed.

keep

/ kiːp /

verb

1. tr to have or retain possession of
2. tr to have temporary possession or charge of

   keep my watch for me during the game

3. tr to store in a customary place

   I keep my books in the desk

4. to remain or cause to remain in a specified state or condition

   keep the dog quiet

   keep ready

5. to continue or cause to continue

   keep the beat

   keep in step

6. tr to have or take charge or care of

   keep the shop for me till I return

7. tr to look after or maintain for use, pleasure, etc

   keep two cars

   to keep chickens

8. tr to provide for the upkeep or livelihood of
9. tr to support financially, esp in return for sexual favours

   he keeps a mistress in the country

10. to confine or detain or be confined or detained
11. to withhold or reserve or admit of withholding or reserving

    your news will keep till later

12. tr to refrain from divulging or violating

    keep one's word

    to keep a secret

13. to preserve or admit of preservation
14. trsometimes foll byup to observe with due rites or ceremonies

    to keep Christmas

15. tr to maintain by writing regular records in

    to keep a diary

16. whenintr, foll by in, on, to, etc to stay in, on, or at (a place or position)

    please keep your seats

    keep to the path

17. tr to associate with (esp in the phrase keep bad company )
18. tr to maintain in existence

    to keep court in the palace

19. tr to have habitually in stock

    this shop keeps all kinds of wool

20. how are you keeping?
    how are you keeping? how are you?
21. keep tabs on informal.
    keep tabs on to keep a watchful eye on
22. See track
    keep track of
    keep track of See track
23. See time
    keep time
    keep time See time
24. keep wicket
    keep wicket to play as wicketkeeper in the game of cricket
25. you can keep it informal.
    you can keep it I have no interest in what you are offering

noun

1. living or support

   he must work for his keep

2. archaic.
   charge or care
3. Also calleddungeondonjon the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
4. informal.
   1. completely; permanently
   2. for the winner or possessor to keep permanently

Other Words From

• keepa·ble adjective
• keepa·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of keep¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English kepen, Old English cēpan “to observe, heed, watch, await, take”; perhaps akin to Old English gecōp “proper, fitting,” capian “to look,” Old Norse kōpa “to stare”

Word History and Origins

Origin of keep¹

Old English cēpan to observe; compare Old Saxon kapōn to look, Old Norse kōpa to stare

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. for keeps, Informal.
   1. under the stipulation that one keeps one's winnings.
   2. with serious intent or purpose.
   3. finally; permanently:

      They decided to settle the argument for keeps.

2. keep books, to maintain financial records.
3. keep to oneself,
   1. to remain aloof from the society of others.
   2. to hold (something) as secret or confidential:

      I'll tell you only if you promise to keep it to yourself.

4. keep time. time ( def 50 ).
5. keep track of. track ( def 38 ).
6. keep tab / tabs on. tab ¹( def 15 ).

More idioms and phrases containing keep

• earn one's keep
• finders keepers, losers weepers
• for keeps
• in keeping
• (keep someone) in the dark

Synonym Study

Keep, reserve, retain, withhold refer to having and holding in possession. Keep (a common word) and retain (a more formal one) agree in meaning to continue to have or hold, as opposed to losing, parting with, or giving up: to keep a book for a week. To reserve is to keep for some future use, occasion, or recipient, or to hold back for a time: to reserve judgment. To withhold is generally to hold back altogether: to withhold help.

Example Sentences

Domestically, the prime minister maintains the dubious line that he is the only man who can keep the still-fragile peace.

From The Daily Beast

“Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV,” she continued.

From The Daily Beast

I think if you keep trying to do things the same way it becomes diminishing returns.

From The Daily Beast

Ney said McDonnell needs to “keep a stiff lip” and stay in close contact with family members.

From The Daily Beast

I keep meeting more and more people where that seems to be the case.

From The Daily Beast

She was growing accustomed to like shocks, but she could not keep the mounting color back from her cheeks.

From Project Gutenberg

And it was no light task, then, for six hundred men to keep the peace on a thousand miles of frontier.

From Project Gutenberg

He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal into the subtilties of parables.

From Project Gutenberg

Keep closely covered with a bell glass and, in a few weeks, more or less, the baby Ferns will start to put in an appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

My thought was to keep pushing in troops from "W" Beach until the enemy had fallen back to save themselves from being cut off.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• carry
• conduct
• control
• enjoy
• have
• manage
• place
• preserve
• put
• retain
• save
• store