kept

[kept]

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of keep.

adjective

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

   a kept press;

   a kept writer.

kept

/ kɛpt /

verb

1. the past tense and past participle of keep

2. pejorative,  a woman maintained by a man as his mistress

Other Word Forms

• unkept adjective
• well-kept adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kept¹

First recorded in 1670–80 kept for def. 2

Example Sentences

Big picture: Americans have kept spending at fairly robust levels the past few years, even amid frequent bouts of pessimism.

Read more on MarketWatch

This happens at Wimbledon, and in the new Champions League format, where seeds are kept apart in pairs.

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Big picture: Americans have kept spending at fairly robust levels the past few years even amid frequent bouts of pessimism.

Read more on MarketWatch

A security guard kept watch for attempted thefts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We often didn’t have a salary, but we kept working just to keep the socials alive.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times