keep 1 of 2

1
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony keep the Sabbath by not working

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to store
to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
as in to maintain
to pay the living expenses of agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs

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keep

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word keep different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of keep are celebrate, commemorate, and observe. While all these words 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

Where would celebrate be a reasonable alternative to keep?

While in some cases nearly identical to keep, celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

When might commemorate be a better fit than keep?

In some situations, the words commemorate and keep are roughly equivalent. However, 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

When is it sensible to use observe instead of keep?

Although the words observe and keep have much in common, observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of keep
Verb
After Homendy's announcement, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy quickly said the Department of Transportation will immediately follow the NTSB's recommendations and keep helicopter restrictions in place, noting that some modifications might be made to the current restrictions. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 11 Mar. 2025 Washington — The House narrowly approved a stopgap measure Tuesday to keep the government funded through September, with Speaker Mike Johnson managing to largely keep his GOP conference united and pass the measure days ahead of a possible government shutdown. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
Our editors and contributors have tested several kinds of platform beds over the years, and have some thoughts on what’s for keeps, and what squeaks enough to do without. Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 30 Jan. 2025 It’s all set against the stunning backdrop of the original keep, built in the late 11th century by Norman invaders on top of a third-century Roman fort. Jamie Carter, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
  • Dozen Bakery off Nolensville Pike is celebrating this silliest of holidays with special pies and quiche.
    Adam Tamburin, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
  • His medical staff celebrated the anniversary with a cake and candles while the pope continued his respiratory therapy Thursday afternoon and followed the evenings Lenten spiritual exercises, the Vatican said.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Art Deco influences like the curvature inside have been retained, while otherwise the house has been updated with modern, colorful touches and appliances.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Defendants retain the right to attorney-client privilege, meaning confidential communications between themselves and their attorney for the purpose of seeking legal advice, while in jail or prison.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • If love, romance, or self-expression have felt confusing, this is the time to reassess what truly fulfills you.
    Colin Bedell, Them, 14 Mar. 2025
  • In recent months, the city agreed to fulfill two grant agreements with O Cinema — one for $25,831 and one for $54,071 — and has already paid half of those amounts, according to the proposal.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The options are generally to store them, donate them to another patient, dispose of them, or donate them to science.
    Ellen O'Connell Whittet, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Students at an Australian high school got a thrilling paleontology lesson this week when a researcher confirmed that a rock slab stored on their campus for two decades preserves dozens of dinosaur footprints dating back some 200 million years.
    Leslie Katz, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • As businesses expand beyond their hometown markets, maintaining an authentic connection to their local roots can become a challenge.
    Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025
  • UConn maintained the pressure with another three turnovers in the first five minutes of the second quarter, but the defensive effort didn’t seem to tire the Huskies on the offensive end.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Anybody who has spent time in an IT organization knows how messy and complex managing a large-scale storage environment can be (which drives up costs).
    Matt Kimball, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Apple navigated tariffs during the previous Trump administration, too, although the company managed to dodge some of them back then.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • From the outset, the premise of Monstress and its tale is a dire one: imagine a 1900s alternative universe controlled by a cruel matriarchal society in Asia.
    Tiffany Leigh, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Many of these features, along with the onboard alarm system, are controlled via the Aventon mobile app.
    Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Tony East, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • In general, foods that are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties are best at protecting your skin from oxidative damage.
    Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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