keep
verb (used with object)
to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own.
was keeping
-
past progressiveof keep.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Before the police major incident was declared, First Minister John Swinney told BBC Scotland News he was keeping the fire "under very close review" and was speaking to the fire service as things develop.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
A person close to Jones told AFP that he was keeping his options open until Burnham lays out more detailed plans for government, particularly on the economy, but that he considered a run "very unlikely".
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
On Nov. 21, Urbina made the case that a “credible fear” was keeping her from going home.
From Salon ● May 2, 2026
Despite the earnings beats, UPS said it was keeping its full-year revenue guidance at approximately $89.7 billion, which implies 1.1% growth from 2025.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 28, 2026
Miles looked like he was keeping himself from saying something nasty, but he shook his head and tucked the fifty into his back pocket.
From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia
