kept

American  

[kept] / kɛpt /

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of keep.

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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 British  

/ kɛpt /

verb

1. the past tense and past participle of keep

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

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Other Word Forms

• unkept adjective
• well-kept adjective

Etymology

Origin of kept

First recorded in 1670–80 kept for def. 2

Example Sentences

He and other economists say a repeat of decades past when prices kept rising and growth stalled is possible.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

A knee injury in pre-season ruined his chance of an early impact and then a joint infection kept him out until the final few games.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Shoppers over this decade have been squeezed by higher costs of living, while tariffs and geopolitical tensions over the past year have kept consumers cautious.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

I’m not saying my USB-charged fan kept me from a trip to the medical tent in 2025, but I’m not NOT saying it.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

I remembered that it was in the shed next to Tomi’s stable that Uncle Manfred kept all his tools, all the harnesses, chains, ropes, everything.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo