- present participle of keep.
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.
Making a big noise about it before the event is bold but very much in keeping with Kerr's brand.
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026
Just 18 months into the market, demand is well established, with more than 1,000 pre-orders before the launch while tight inventory is keeping delivery lead times at 8 to 12 weeks, they say.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026
“As we celebrate 250 years of this nation, let’s honor it the right way by keeping California safe.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026
Greenspan’s monetary actions during the early years of the Clinton administration also played a key role in keeping inflation under control, according to Komal S. Sri-Kumar, head of Sri-Kumar Global Strategies.
From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026
When he focused on keeping his left foot still, his claws twiddled.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
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.
