keep

1 of 2

verb

ˈkēp 

kept ˈkept  ; keeping

transitive verb

1

a

: to retain in one's possession or power

kept the money we found

b

: to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing

kept the news back

c

: to have in control

keep your temper

2

: to take notice of by appropriate conduct : fulfill: such as

a

: to be faithful to

keep a promise

b

: to act fittingly in relation to

keep the Sabbath

c

: to conform to in habits or conduct

keep late hours

d

: to stay in accord with (a beat)

keep time

3

: preserve, maintain: such as

a

: to watch over and defend

keep us from harm

b(1)

: to take care of : tend

keep a garden

(2)

: support

(3)

: to maintain in a good, fitting, or orderly condition

—usually used with up

c

: to continue to maintain

keep watch

d(1)

: to cause to remain in a given place, situation, or condition

keep him waiting

(2)

: to preserve (food) in an unspoiled condition

e(1)

: to have or maintain in an established position or relationship

keep a mistress

—often used with on

kept the cook on

(2)

: to lodge or feed for pay

keep boarders

f(1)

: to maintain a record in

keep a diary

(2)

: to enter in a book

keep records

g

: to have customarily in stock for sale

4

a

: to restrain from departure or removal : detain

keep children after school

b

: hold back, restrain

keep them from going

kept him back with difficulty

c

: save, reserve

keep some for later

kept some out for a friend

d

: to refrain from revealing

keep a secret

5

: to confine oneself to

keep my room

6

a

: to stay or continue in

keep the path

keep your seat

b

: to stay or remain on or in usually against opposition : hold

kept her ground

7

: conduct, manage

keep a tearoom

intransitive verb

1

a

: to maintain a course, direction, or progress

keep to the right

b

: to continue usually without interruption

keep talking

keep quiet

keep on smiling

c

: to persist in a practice

kept bothering them

kept on smoking in spite of warnings

2

: stay, remain

keep out of the way

keep off the grass

: such as

a

: to stay even

—usually used with up

keep up with the Joneses

b

: to remain in good condition

meat will keep in the freezer

c

: to remain secret

the secret would keep

d

: to call for no immediate action

the matter will keep until morning

3

: abstain, refrain

can't keep from talking

4

: to be in session

school will keep through the winter

—W. M. Thayer

5

of a quarterback : to retain possession of a football especially after faking a handoff

6

chiefly British : live, lodge

keep

2 of 2

noun

1

: the means or provisions by which one is kept

earned his keep

2

: one that keeps or protects: such as

a

: fortress, castle

specifically : the strongest and securest part of a medieval castle

b

: one whose job is to keep or tend

c

: prison, jail

3

: keeper sense 5

4

a

: maintenance

b

archaic : custody, charge

Phrases

keep an eye on

: watch

keep at

: to persist in doing or concerning oneself with

keep company

: to go together as frequent companions or in courtship see also keep company with

keep house

: to manage a household

keep one's distance or keep at a distance

: to stay aloof : maintain a reserved attitude

keep one's eyes open or keep one's eyes peeled

: to be on the alert : be watchful

keep one's hand in

: to keep in practice

keep one's head down

: to avoid attracting notice

keep one's nose clean

: to avoid trouble especially through good behavior

keep pace

: to stay even

also : keep up sense 1

keep step

: to keep in step

keep to

1

a

: to stay in

b

: to limit oneself to

2

: to abide by

keep to oneself

1

: to keep secret

kept the facts to myself

2

: to remain solitary or apart from other people

for keeps

1

a

: with the provision that one keep what one has won

played marbles for keeps

b

: with deadly seriousness

2

: for an indefinitely long time : permanently

3

: with the result of ending the matter

Synonyms

Verb

• celebrate
• commemorate
• observe

Noun

• care and feeding
• conservation
• conserving
• maintenance
• preservation
• preserving
• sustentation
• upkeep

Choose the Right Synonym for keep

keep, observe, celebrate, commemorate mean to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed.

keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

keep, retain, detain, withhold, reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control.

keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control.

keep this while I'm gone

retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

managed to retain their dignity even in poverty

detain suggests a delay in letting go.

detained them for questioning

withhold implies restraint in letting go or a refusal to let go.

withheld information from the authorities

reserve suggests a keeping in store for future use.

reserve some of your energy for the last mile

Examples of keep in a Sentence

Verb

She's going to keep the money she found.

I can't decide whether to sell my old car or keep it for another year.

While the company laid off some employees, others had hopes of keeping their jobs.

“The fare is $4.” “Here's $5. Keep the change.”

I asked them to keep quiet.

The program teaches kids how to keep safe near water.

I tried to keep the children quiet during the ceremony.

The local newspaper keeps people informed about what's happening in town.

The article offers tips on how to keep kids safe near water.

The movie will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Noun

the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

For me, the fresh blood of Micronesia keeps that season higher. 4. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

According to colleagues who spoke to the New York Times, Thompson kept a low profile at home and was down-to-earth and funny in his personal life. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

Noun

Imagine your car dropping you off at work and then spending the day earning its keep as a ride-share vehicle. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 16 Oct. 2024

Roberts has rightfully earned his keep and should be appreciated and respected by all. —Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English kepen, from Old English cēpan; perhaps akin to Old High German chapfēn to look

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 4b

Phrases Containing keep

• are/keep/stay one jump ahead
• earn one's keep
• get/stay/keep out of someone's/the way
• have/keep an/one's eye out for
• have/keep half an eye on
• have/keep one's feet on the ground
• have/keep one's guard up
• have/keep/put one's finger on the pulse of
• have/keep (something) up one's sleeve
• hold/keep/play (something) close to one's chest
• hold/keep/play (something) close to the vest
• keep abreast of
• keep a civil tongue
• keep a close check on
• keep a close watch/eye
• keep a close watch over
• keep a cool head
• keep a diary
• keep after
• keep a level head
• keep a lid on
• keep a lookout for
• keep an eagle eye on
• keep a rein on
• keep a secret
• keep a sharp eye on
• keep a straight face
• keep at it
• keep a watchful eye on (someone or something)
• keep a watch out for
• keep-away
• keep a weather eye on
• keep back
• keep bad company
• keep body and soul together
• keep company with
• keep count
• keep down
• keep faith with
• keep from
• keep/fulfill one's promise
• keep/get one's hands off (of)
• keep going
• keep/hold in check
• keep in
• keep in touch
• keep in with
• keep it down
• keep it on the q.t.
• keep it simple
• keep kosher
• keep off
• keep on
• keep on at
• keep one's chin up
• keep one's cool/composure
• keep oneself to oneself
• keep one's eye on the ball
• keep one's eyes glued to
• keep one's eyes skinned
• keep one's fingers crossed
• keep one's head
• keep one's head above water
• keep one's lip/lips buttoned
• keep one's mind on
• keep one's mouth shut
• keep one's nose out of
• keep one's nose to the grindstone
• keep one's powder dry
• keep one's side of the bargain
• keep one's silence
• keep one's temper
• keep one's trap shut
• keep one's voice down
• keep one's word
• keep out
• keep out of
• keep pace with
• keep purdah
• keep quiet
• keep quiet about
• keep score
• keep (someone) at it
• keep (someone) dangling
• keep (someone) guessing
• keep (someone) in his/her place
• keep someone in the picture
• keep (someone) on his/her toes
• keep (someone or something) at arm's length
• keep (someone or something) back
• keep (someone or something) going
• keep (someone) posted
• keep someone sweet
• keep (something) under one's hat
• keep/stay apace with
• keep/stay cool
• keep/stay mum
• keep/stay on her boss's good side
• keep/stay out of trouble
• keep tabs on
• keep the ball rolling
• keep the faith
• keep the wolf from the door
• keep things in proportion
• keep time
• keep track
• keep under surveillance
• keep up
• keep up appearances
• keep up on
• keep up one's end
• keep up the good work
• keep up with
• keep up with the Joneses
• keep up with the times
• keep vigil
• keep watch
• keep watch on
• keep (weight) off
• keep your hair on
• keep your pants on
• keep your shirt on
• leave/keep one's options open
• one's keep
• play/hold/keep one's cards close to the/one's chest/vest
• put/keep one out of action
• stay/keep ahead of the field
• stay/keep in practice
• take/get/keep one's mind off

Kids Definition

keep

1 of 2 verb

ˈkēp 

kept ˈkept  ; keeping

1

a

: to be faithful to : fulfill

keep a promise

b

: to act properly in relation to

keep the Sabbath

2

a

: protect

keep us from harm

b

: to take care of : tend

keep a garden

3

: to continue doing something : maintain

keep silence

keep on working

keep that up and you'll get into trouble

4

: to have in one's service or at one's disposal

keep a car

5

: to preserve a record in

keep a diary

6

: to have on hand regularly for sale

keep neckties

7

: to continue to have in one's possession or power

kept the marbles I won

8

a

: to prevent from leaving : detain

keep a person in jail

was kept after school

b

: to place for storage

keeps the catsup in the refrigerator

keep my socks in a drawer

9

: to hold back

keep a secret

10

a

: to remain or cause to remain in a place, situation, or condition

keep off the grass

keep him waiting

b

: to continue in an unspoiled condition

food that keeps well

11

: refrain entry 1

keep from talking

12

: to take charge of (as a business) : manage

kept an inn

keep

2 of 2 noun

1

: the strongest part of a castle in the Middle Ages

2

: the necessities of life

earn one's keep