Synonyms

kept

American

[kept] / kɛpt /

verb

simple past tense and past participle of keep.

adjective

having the expression of principles, ideas, etc., controlled, dominated, or determined by one whose money provides support.

a kept press;
a kept writer.

kept British

/ kɛpt /

verb

the past tense and past participle of keep
pejorative a woman maintained by a man as his mistress

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of kept

First recorded in 1670–80 kept for def. 2

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.

Kept Hadjar behind in the early stages but ultimately his race was ruined by the safety car.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

"Kept chipping away. Got some stops, made some shots and there it is."

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

Appeared in the October 6, 2025, print edition as 'Starbucks Kept Cuts Under Wraps'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 4, 2025

Camas was featured in the “Best Kept Secrets” category, while Eugene was included in “Not Just College Towns.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2024

Kept her from doing all the things that she did.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023