Meaning of keep in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /kip/

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  1. Verb

    keep

    Etymology

    late Old English cēpan ‘seize, take in’, also ‘care for, attend to’, of unknown origin

    Definitions

    1. keep in a certain state, position, or activity

    Examples

    • « e.g., keep clean »
    • « hold in place »
    • « She always held herself as a lady »
    • « The students keep me on my toes »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. continue a certain state, condition, or activity

    Examples

    • « Keep on working! »
    • « We continued to work into the night »
    • « Keep smiling »
    • « We went on working until well past midnight »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  3. 3. retain possession of

    Examples

    • « Can I keep my old stuffed animals? »
    • « She kept her maiden name after she married »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  4. 4. prevent from doing something or being in a certain state

    Examples

    • « We must prevent the cancer from spreading »
    • « His snoring kept me from falling asleep »
    • « Keep the child from eating the marbles »

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

  5. 5. conform one's action or practice to

    Examples

    • « keep appointments »
    • « she never keeps her promises »
    • « We kept to the original conditions of the contract »

    Derived terms

  6. 6. observe correctly or closely

    Examples

    • « The pianist kept time with the metronome »
    • « keep count »
    • « I cannot keep track of all my employees »

    Derived terms

  7. 7. look after

    Examples

    • « be the keeper of »
    • « have charge of »
    • « He keeps the shop when I am gone »

    Derived terms

  8. 8. maintain by writing regular records

    Examples

    • « keep a diary »
    • « maintain a record »
    • « keep notes »
  9. 9. supply with room and board

    Examples

    • « He is keeping three women in the guest cottage »
    • « keep boarders »
  10. 10. allow to remain in a place or position

    Examples

    • « We cannot continue several servants any longer »
    • « She retains a lawyer »
    • « The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff »
    • « Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on »
    • « We kept the »

    Derived terms

  11. 11. supply with necessities and support

    Examples

    • « She alone sustained her family »
    • « The money will sustain our good cause »
    • « There's little to earn and many to keep »

    Derived terms

  12. 12. fail to spoil or rot

    Examples

    • « These potatoes keep for a long time »
  13. 13. celebrate, as of holidays or rites

    Examples

    • « Keep the commandments »
    • « celebrate Christmas »
    • « Observe Yom Kippur »

    Derived terms

  14. 14. keep under control

    Examples

    • « keep in check »
    • « suppress a smile »
    • « Keep your temper »
    • « keep your cool »

    Derived terms

  15. 15. maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger

    Examples

    • « May God keep you »

    Derived terms

  16. 16. raise

    Examples

    • « She keeps a few chickens in the yard »
    • « he keeps bees »
  17. 17. retain rights to

    Examples

    • « keep my job for me while I give birth »
    • « keep my seat, please »
    • « keep open the possibility of a merger »
  18. 18. store or keep customarily

    Examples

    • « Where do you keep your gardening tools? »
  19. 19. have as a supply

    Examples

    • « I always keep batteries in the freezer »
    • « keep food for a week in the pantry »
    • « She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator »
  20. 20. maintain for use and service

    Examples

    • « I keep a car in the countryside »
    • « She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips »
  21. 21. hold and prevent from leaving

    Examples

    • « The student was kept after school »

    Derived terms

  22. 22. prevent (food) from rotting

    Examples

    • « preserved meats »
    • « keep potatoes fresh »

    Derived terms

  23. Noun

    keep

    Definitions

    1. the financial means whereby one lives

    Examples

    • « each child was expected to pay for their keep »
    • « he applied to the state for support »
    • « he could no longer earn his own livelihood »

    Derived terms

  24. 2. the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
  25. 3. a cell in a jail or prison

    Derived terms

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