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1. Dictionary

   Keep

   /kēp/

   

   verb

   • 1. have or retain possession of: "return one copy to me, keeping the other for your files"
   • ▪ put or store in a regular place: "his personal work was kept securely in an upstairs studio" Similar storehousestowkeep a place forput awayplaceputdepositstackpile
   • 2. cause to continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc.: "the guidance system keeps the machine on course" Similar remaincontinue to bestaycarry on beinggo on beingpersist in beingnot cease to be
   • ▪ continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc.: "I kept quiet while Emily talked on" Similar remaincontinue to bestaycarry on beinggo on beingpersist in beingnot cease to be
   • ▪ continue doing or do repeatedly or habitually: "he keeps going on about the murder" Similar persist ingo onkeep oncarry oncontinuedo something constantlydo something incessantlydo something continuallynot stop doing somethingpersevereOpposite give upstop
   • ▪ (of a perishable commodity) remain in good condition: "fresh ginger does not keep well"
   • ▪ retain one's place in or on (a seat or saddle, the ground, etc.) against opposition or difficulty: "are you able to keep your saddle?"
   • ▪ make (someone) do something for a period of time: "I have kept her waiting too long"
   • ▪ delay or detain; cause to be late: "I won't keep you, I know you've got a busy evening" Similar detaincause to staycause to waitkeep waitingkeep backhold backrestraindelayhold upretardmake lateset backslow downslow uphinderobstructcheckimpedeblockhamperconstrain
   • ▪ continue to follow (a way, path, or course): archaic "the friars and soldiers removed, keeping their course toward Jericho"
   • 3. provide for the sustenance of (someone): "he had to keep his large family in the manner he had chosen" Similar provide forsupportprovide food forprovide sustenance forprovide board forfeedkeep alivemaintainsustainsubsidizefinancetake care oflook afternurturenourish
   • ▪ own and look after (an animal) for pleasure or profit: "they raised pigs and kept a pony or two" Similar breedrearraisefarmownhave as a petkeep as a petlook aftertend
   • ▪ own and manage (a shop or business). Similar managerunownbe the proprietor ofbe in charge ofadministerorganizedirectkeep upmaintainoperatelook aftersuperintend
   • ▪ guard; protect: "the boy keeps the sheep" Similar tendlook aftercare fortake care ofmindwatch overhave charge ofbe responsible forprotectkeep safekeep from harmpreservedefendguardshieldsheltersafeguardsave
   • ▪ support (someone, especially a woman) financially in return for sexual favors: "a kept woman"
   • 4. honor or fulfill (a commitment or undertaking): "I'll keep my promise, naturally" Similar comply withobeyrespectobserveconform toabide bystick toact in accordance withact according tohave regard toheedfollowpay attention todefer totake notice offulfillcarry outact onmake goodbe bound byhonorkeep toredeemkeep faith withstand byadhere toexecutedischargeperformrare:effectuateOpposite breakdisobey
   • ▪ observe (a religious occasion) in the prescribed manner: "today's consumers do not keep the Sabbath" Similar observerespecthonorhold sacredrecognizeacknowledgecelebratemarksolemnizeritualizeceremonializecommemorateOpposite ignoreneglect
   • ▪ pay due regard to (a law or custom): "if you kept small rules, you could break the big ones" Similar observerespecthonorhold sacredrecognizeacknowledgecelebratemarksolemnizeritualizeceremonializecommemorateOpposite ignoreneglect
   • 5. make written entries in (a diary) on a regular basis: "the master kept a weekly journal"
   • ▪ write down as (a record): "keep a note of the whereabouts of each item"

   noun

   • 1. food, clothes, and other essentials for living: "working overtime to earn his keep"
   • ▪ the cost of basic living essentials.
   • 2. charge; control: archaic "if from shepherd's keep a lamb strayed far"
   • 3. the strongest or central tower of a castle, acting as a final refuge.

   Word Origin late Old Englishcēpan ‘seize, take in’, also ‘care for, attend to’, of unknown origin.

   Derivatives

   • 1. keepable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • K

     5

   • E

     1

   • E

     1

   • P

     3

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2. People also ask

   What does keep off mean?

   • Doctors will keep her in hospital for at least another week. [VERB noun preposition] If you keep off something or keep away from it, you avoid it. If you keep out of something, you avoid getting involved in it. You can also say that you keep someone off, away from, or out of something. I managed to stick to the diet and keep off sweet foods.

   KEEP definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   What is the difference between keep and detain?

   • 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. retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss. detain suggests a delay in letting go.

   Keep Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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   What does keeping mean?

   • to maintain an equal rate of speed, activity, or progress with another or others. to persevere; continue. to maintain the good condition of; keep in repair. to keep up on current events. You'll never master your French unless you keep at it. She keeps to the rules. to keep to one's bed. how are you keeping? how are you keeping? how are you?

   KEEP Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What does keep a person mean?

   • [transitive] keep somebody/yourself to provide what is necessary for somebody to live; to support somebody by paying for food, etc. He scarcely earns enough to keep himself and his family. [transitive] keep somebody to delay somebody synonym hold up You're an hour late—what kept you? I won't keep you long. I've just got a couple of quick questions.

   keep verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/keep_1

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › keepKeep Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the verb and noun keep, with synonyms, examples, and phrases. Find out the origin and history of the word keep in English.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishKEEP | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

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   Learn the meaning and usage of the verb and noun keep in English. Find out how to keep something, someone, or yourself in different situations and contexts, with examples and synonyms.

5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionkeep verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and grammar of the verb keep, with pictures and example sentences. Find out how to use keep in different contexts, such as keeping something, somebody, a secret, a promise, a record, etc.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › keepKEEP Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   verb (used with object) , kept, keep·ing. to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own: If you like it, keep it. Keep the change. to hold or have the use of for a period of time: You can keep it for the summer. to hold in a given place; store: You can keep your things in here.

7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › keepKeep - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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   Definitions of keep. verb. continue a certain state, condition, or activity. “ Keep on working!” “ Keep smiling” synonyms: continue, go along, go on, proceed. bear on, carry on, continue, preserve, uphold. keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last. continue after an interruption. see more. verb. fail to spoil or rot.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishKEEP definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   2 days ago · Learn the meaning and usage of the verb 'keep' in various contexts and sentences. Find synonyms, examples, and related words for 'keep' in the Collins English Dictionary.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › keepKEEP | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

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   Learn the meaning of keep as a verb and a noun, with different uses and phrasal verbs. Find out how to keep something, someone, or yourself in various situations and contexts.