Yahoo Web Search

Search results

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

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less

2. www.wordreference.com › definition › keepkeep - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

   www.wordreference.com › definition › keep

   • Cached

   to (cause to) continue or stay in a certain position, state, course, condition, or action: [ ~ + object + verb-ing] to keep a light burning. [ ~ + verb-ing] I kept trying to reach her by phone. [ ~ (+ object) + adjective] Keep the children quiet during the ceremony. [ ~ + object + verb-ed/-en] You have to keep your lawn mowed in that neighborhoo...

3. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishkeep noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of keep noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

4. premium-oxforddictionaries-com.libproxy.ucl.ac.uk › keepkeep - definition of keep in English from the Oxford dictionary

   premium-oxforddictionaries-com.libproxy.ucl.ac.uk › keep

   • Cached

   Definition of keep in English: keep. Top 1000 frequently used words. Pronunciation: /kiːp/ verb (past and past participle kept. Pronunciation: /kɛpt/ ) [with object] 1 have or retain possession of: return one copy to me, keeping the other for your files my father would keep the best for himself she had trouble keeping her balance.

5. dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-american-english › keepkeep definition | Cambridge Essential American Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-american-english › keep

   • Cached

   Definition of keep in Essential American English Dictionary. keep. verb. us / kip/ past tense and past participle kept. A2. to have something always, as your own: You can keep that dress if you like it. I kept every letter he ever sent to me. keep something in, on, etc. A2. to always put something in a particular place:

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-american-english › keepkeep | English meaning - Cambridge Essential American

   dictionary.cambridge.org › essential-american-english › keep

   • Cached

   to make someone or something stay in a particular state: This coat should keep you warm. He keeps his car very clean. keep doing something. B1. to continue to do something, or to often do something: I keep telling her not to do it. He keeps hitting me. B1. to delay someone or prevent someone from doing something:

7. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › keep toKeep to Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › keep to

   • Cached

   verb. ˈkēp. kept ˈkept; keeping. Synonyms of keep. 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.

8. www.oed.com › dictionary › keep_nkeep, n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English Dictionary

   www.oed.com › dictionary › keep_n

   • Cached

   What does the noun keep mean? There are 15 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun keep, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. keep has developed meanings and uses in subjects including.