keep
Americanverb (used with object)
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keeps,
present (3rd person singular)
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kept,
past participle, past
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keeping
present participle
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to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own.
If you like it, keep it. Keep the change.
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to hold or have the use of for a period of time.
You can keep it for the summer.
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to hold in a given place; store.
You can keep your things in here.
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to maintain (some action), especially in accordance with specific requirements, a promise, etc..
to keep watch; to keep step.
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to cause to continue in a given position, state, course, or action.
to keep a light burning; to keep a child happy.
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to maintain in condition or order, as by care and labor.
He keeps his car in good condition.
- Synonyms:
- preserve
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to maintain in usable or edible condition; preserve.
If you want to keep meat for a long time, freeze it.
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to hold in custody or under guard, as a prisoner.
They kept him in jail.
- Antonyms:
- release
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to cause to stay in a particular place; prevent or restrain from departure.
The work kept her at the office.
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to have regularly in stock and for sale.
to keep a large supply of machine parts.
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to maintain in one's service or for one's use or enjoyment.
to keep a car and chauffeur.
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to associate with.
She keeps bad company.
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to have the care, charge, or custody of.
She keeps my dog when I travel.
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to refrain from disclosing; withhold from the knowledge of others.
to keep a secret.
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to withhold from use; reserve; save.
I'll keep this toy until you learn to behave. Keep the good wine for company.
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to hold back or restrain.
They kept the child from talking. Nothing can keep him from doing it.
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to maintain control of; regulate.
to keep the peace; to keep your temper.
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to maintain by writing.
to keep a diary.
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to record (business transactions, daily occurrences, etc.) regularly.
to keep records; to keep a list of visitors.
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to observe; pay obedient regard to (a law, rule, promise, etc.).
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to conform to; follow; fulfill.
to keep one's word.
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to observe (a season, festival, etc.) with formalities or rites.
to keep Christmas.
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to maintain or carry on, as an establishment, business, etc.; manage.
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to guard; protect.
He kept her from harm.
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to maintain or support.
It costs more each year to keep a house.
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to support or contribute to the support of in return for sexual or other favors.
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to take care of; tend.
to keep a vegetable garden.
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to raise (livestock).
These farmers keep goats and cattle.
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to remain in (a place, spot, etc.).
Please keep your seats.
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to maintain one's position in or on.
He kept the job.
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to continue to follow (a path, track, course, etc.).
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to maintain in active existence, as an assembly, court, or fair.
verb (used without object)
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keeps,
present (3rd person singular)
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kept,
past participle, past
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keeping
present participle
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to continue in an action, course, position, state, etc..
to keep in sight; to keep going.
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to remain, or continue to be, as specified.
to keep cool.
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to remain or stay in a particular place.
to keep indoors.
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to continue unimpaired or without spoiling.
The food will keep on ice.
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to admit of being reserved for a future occasion.
I have more to tell you, but it will keep.
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to keep oneself or itself as specified (followed by away, back, off, out, etc.).
Keep off the grass.
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to restrain oneself; refrain (usually followed byfrom ).
Try to keep from smiling.
noun
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keeps
plural
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board and lodging; subsistence; support.
to work for one's keep.
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the innermost and strongest structure or central tower of a medieval castle.
- Synonyms:
- stronghold, dungeon, donjon
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(used with a singular verb) keeps, a game of marbles in which the players keep the marbles they have won.
verb phrase
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keep to
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to adhere to; conform to.
She keeps to the rules.
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to confine oneself to.
to keep to one's bed.
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keep up
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to maintain an equal rate of speed, activity, or progress with another or others.
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to persevere; continue.
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to maintain the good condition of; keep in repair.
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Also keep up onwith. to stay informed.
to keep up on current events.
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to match one's friends, neighbors, business associates, etc., in success, affluence, etc.
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keep on to continue; persist.
If you keep on singing they'll ask you to leave.
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keep in with to stay in someone's favor; be on good terms with.
They are social climbers who make certain to keep in with all the right people.
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keep down
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to hold under control or at a reduced or acceptable level.
to keep your voice down.
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to prevent from going up or increasing.
to keep prices down.
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keep back
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to hold in check; restrain.
The dikes kept back the floodwaters.
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to stay away from.
The crowds would not keep back from the barrier.
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to refuse to reveal.
The prisoner was keeping back vital information.
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keep at to persist in; be steadfast.
You'll never master your French unless you keep at it.
idioms
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keep track of. track.
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keep books, to maintain financial records.
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keep to oneself,
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to remain aloof from the society of others.
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to hold (something) as secret or confidential.
I'll tell you only if you promise to keep it to yourself.
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keep time. time.
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keep tab / tabs on. tab.
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for keeps,
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under the stipulation that one keeps one's winnings.
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with serious intent or purpose.
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finally; permanently.
They decided to settle the argument for keeps.
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verb
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(tr) to have or retain possession of
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(tr) to have temporary possession or charge of
keep my watch for me during the game
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(tr) to store in a customary place
I keep my books in the desk
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to remain or cause to remain in a specified state or condition
keep the dog quiet
keep ready
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to continue or cause to continue
keep the beat
keep in step
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(tr) to have or take charge or care of
keep the shop for me till I return
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(tr) to look after or maintain for use, pleasure, etc
to keep chickens
keep two cars
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(tr) to provide for the upkeep or livelihood of
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(tr) to support financially, esp in return for sexual favours
he keeps a mistress in the country
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to confine or detain or be confined or detained
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to withhold or reserve or admit of withholding or reserving
your news will keep till later
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(tr) to refrain from divulging or violating
to keep a secret
keep one's word
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to preserve or admit of preservation
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to observe with due rites or ceremonies
to keep Christmas
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(tr) to maintain by writing regular records in
to keep a diary
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to stay in, on, or at (a place or position)
please keep your seats
keep to the path
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(tr) to associate with (esp in the phrase keep bad company )
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(tr) to maintain in existence
to keep court in the palace
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(tr) to have habitually in stock
this shop keeps all kinds of wool
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how are you?
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informal to keep a watchful eye on
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See track
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See time
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to play as wicketkeeper in the game of cricket
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informal I have no interest in what you are offering
noun
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living or support
he must work for his keep
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archaic charge or care
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Also called: dungeon. donjon. the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
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informal
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completely; permanently
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for the winner or possessor to keep permanently
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Usage
What is a basic definition of keep? Keep means to hold on to something and not let it leave your possession. Keep can also mean to store something in a certain place. And keep can mean to continue an action or to remain in a certain state. Keep has many other senses as a verb and a few as a noun and is used in a large number of idioms. If you keep something, it means that you are making sure it stays yours and doesn’t leave your possession. For example, if you don’t give money to someone, then you are keeping it. The past tense of keep is kept.
- Real-life examples: Most people prefer to keep money rather than give it away or spend it. If a childhood toy means a lot to you, you probably want to keep it and not throw it away. If nobody claims a lost item, then the store or police will usually let the finder keep it.
- Used in a sentence: I’m going to keep this old hat I found rather than throw it away.
- Real-life examples: Almost everyone keeps perishable food in a refrigerator. You might keep your clothes on the floor, although your mom wants them in a dresser. People keep money in a safe or bank account. The police keep prisoners in jail.
- Used in a sentence: Aylia keeps her priceless jewelry in a lockbox.
- Real-life examples: A business will keep making money as long as it can. Most pets will keep staring at you until you either finish eating or give them some food. The moon will keep rotating around Earth unless something stops it.
- Used in a sentence: Sasha is persistent and will keep hitting that piñata until candy comes out.
- Real-life examples: People store ice cream in a freezer so it keeps cold. Most people find it hard to keep calm during a crisis. People wear jackets or use umbrellas to keep dry during a rainstorm.
- Used in a sentence: The men gathered around the fire to keep warm.
Synonym Usage
Keep, reserve, retain, withhold refer to having and holding in possession. Keep (a common word) and retain (a more formal one) agree in meaning to continue to have or hold, as opposed to losing, parting with, or giving up: to keep a book for a week. To reserve is to keep for some future use, occasion, or recipient, or to hold back for a time: to reserve judgment. To withhold is generally to hold back altogether: to withhold help.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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keepsimple
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keepssimple
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have keptperfect
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has keptperfect
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am keepingprogressive
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are keepingprogressive
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is keepingprogressive
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have been keepingperfect progressive
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has been keepingperfect progressive
Past
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keptsimple
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had keptperfect
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was keepingprogressive
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were keepingprogressive
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had been keepingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of keep
First recorded before 1000; Middle English kepen, Old English cēpan “to observe, heed, watch, await, take”; perhaps akin to Old English gecōp “proper, fitting,” capian “to look,” Old Norse kōpa “to stare”
Explanation
To keep means to have and hold on to something — like to keep your wallet in your pocket. It also means to continue; if you keep hula hooping you’ll break the world record! Keep has many senses in English, and shows up in a lot of our common expressions, like “keep out!" and "keep your shirt on!" The word generally has the senses of hold onto, maintain, stay, continue, or protect from harm. Food that will not spoil yet will keep. You can keep a secret, keep a diary, or keep your little sister safe. You can also keep a ritual or religious custom by practicing it –- like to keep kosher. Whatever you do, “just keep going.”
Vocabulary lists containing keep
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.
See Examples For:
It’s all so Clippers, to have lined up this move that will keep them afloat, just treading water.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
As an Evertonian you are probably thinking why didn't we keep him.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
Still, Monday’s reversal wasn’t as pronounced, and many investors say they have reasons to believe that the 10-year yield could easily keep climbing beyond 5% in the coming weeks and months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
It comes with an app so you can keep tabs on its performance, and the ability to automatically run during off-peak electricity hours.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
I think the only reason he agreed to keep the plant is because he enjoys arguing about it with me.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
TV worth rewatching: What is it about the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers that keeps viewers coming back for more, 25 years after it originally aired?
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
The story also left its mark on Rhys Ifans, who plays a schoolteacher who, unlike the effervescent Emma, keeps his diagnosis hidden.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
But the real danger begins if the Fed keeps coming back for more.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
"When I talk to families, the cost of living keeps cropping up," she says.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
She keeps talking about how change is a positive force in life, how I should be open to new experiences.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
He kept his emotions deliberately in check and, even though he lost the third set, never loosened his grip on the match.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
“I was terrible at it, but I kept going. I was super persistent.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
The cartel had kept planned October production levels unchanged earlier this month, citing its commitment to market stability.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
The cabs kept passing him to pick up younger riders just metres away who were using smartphone apps to hail their rides.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
All through the short winter afternoon they kept coming, the people who counted themselves Father’s friends.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, said that the market is reading the Fed wrong and that the “center of gravity” among Fed officials still supports keeping rates unchanged.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
Their effects can become much more severe when several cyclones arrive in rapid succession, keeping the region stormy for an extended period.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
But production remains prolific, keeping winter futures prices subdued, he adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland were keeping the ball when it was played up to them, as well as winning free-kicks or beating people.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
“Oh, hello, Duane. We’ve just been discussing a proper brushing regimen for keeping one’s fur lustrous.”
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.
