keeping

American  

[kee-ping] / ˈki pɪŋ /

noun

1. agreement or conformity in things or elements associated together.

   His actions are not in keeping with his words.

   Synonyms:

   harmony, congruity, consistency

2. the act of a person or thing that keeps; observance, custody, or care.

   Synonyms:

   guardianship, charge, protection

3. maintenance or keep.

4. holding, reserving, or retaining.

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keeping British  

/ ˈkiːpɪŋ /

noun

1. conformity or harmony (esp in the phrases in or out of keeping )

2. charge or care

   valuables in the keeping of a bank

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Related Words

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

I drove the car on a round trip from Raleigh, N.C., to Jacksonville, Fla., last month to attend the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, mostly keeping to the route along I-95.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Fibroblasts play a key role in keeping the lungs' airways and air sacs stable and functional.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

You might be in the habit of keeping a certain amount of cash on hand for emergencies, but how much interest are you earning on that money?

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Any pullbacks in energy stocks have been shallow and short-lived, technical analysis shows, reinforcing the underlying demand and keeping the sector as a clear market leader.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

We stole past, keeping well out of the way of the film crew, then went by even more sets before we came out the other end of the warehouse.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu