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

The suburban apathy that has kept too many Southern Californians on the sidelines as immigration agents sweep into our cities was nowhere to be felt in Little Village.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sablenka ended the year a Grand Slam champion, having defended her US Open title, and kept the top ranking for 55 weeks in a row.

Read more on BBC

I kept my mom’s phone open a year after she died.

Read more on Barron's

Like many startups, at least one employee signed an NDA, the company didn’t openly solicit job applicants and kept its website bare of details.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"They kept making Arsenal defend and when the chance came they took it."

Read more on BBC