keeping
Americannoun
-
agreement or conformity in things or elements associated together.
His actions are not in keeping with his words.
- Synonyms:
- harmony, congruity, consistency
-
the act of a person or thing that keeps; observance, custody, or care.
- Synonyms:
- guardianship, charge, protection
-
maintenance or keep.
-
holding, reserving, or retaining.
noun
-
conformity or harmony (esp in the phrases in or out of keeping )
-
charge or care
valuables in the keeping of a bank
Synonym Usage
See custody.
Etymology
Origin of keeping
First recorded in 1250–1300, keeping is from the Middle English word keping. See keep, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Public attitudes towards keeping whales in captivity have also changed drastically since Marineland opened in 1961.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
Here are four things we don’t know about the Dodgers, but well worth keeping an eye on:
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Farmers can be paid to leave fields fallow because keeping water in the river is more valuable than using it to grow a crop.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Her government became Italy's longest-serving last month, also earning plaudits for keeping the country's public finances in check.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Was I keeping her at arm’s length by not telling her how much she meant to me?
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
