1
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony
keep the Sabbath by not working
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2
as in to retain
to continue to have in one's possession or power
the money is yours to keep keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone
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3
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of
make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter
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4
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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6
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away
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7
as in to control
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
try to keep your composure no matter what happens
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8
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
may God bless and keep you
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as in preserving
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition
the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters
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as in to avoid
to resist the temptation of
try to keep from eating all the chocolate in one day!
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as in to stick (to or with)
to give steadfast support to
always keeps to his political positions, even when they are unpopular
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keep to
5 of 5phrase
as in obey
to act according to the commands of
Let's keep to the original plan, shall we?
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of keep
Jen McCaffery, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Or are they plagued by all the same problems of online dating — flighty matches, algorithms designed to keep you on the apps, and a lot of heartache and dissatisfaction?
—Allie Volpe, Vox, 14 Nov. 2024
Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Sep. 2024
An international team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Glasgow and Tel Aviv University are working on a way to make T. gondii earn its keep.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for keep 
Verb
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A keeper at the Oklahoma City Zoo one day noticed that Eko, a Sumatran tiger, kept rubbing his face on the side of the fence, breaking all his whiskers.
—Jen McCaffery, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Or are they plagued by all the same problems of online dating — flighty matches, algorithms designed to keep you on the apps, and a lot of heartache and dissatisfaction?
—Allie Volpe, Vox, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Osaka Castle–Nakanoshima route on the Aqua-Liner Water Bus with a view of the castle’s main keep, gives a magnificent sense of place and history, especially when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom along the river.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Sep. 2024
An international team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Glasgow and Tel Aviv University are working on a way to make T. gondii earn its keep.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for keep
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Cite this Entry
“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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