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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › keep

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   The meaning of KEEP is to retain in one's possession or power. How to use keep in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Keep.

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   KEEP definition: 1. to have or continue to have in your possession: 2. to own and manage a small shop: 3. If you…. Learn more.

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

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › keep

   To keep means to have and hold on to something — like to keep your wallet in your pocket. It also means to continue; if you keep hula hooping you’ll break the world record!

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › keep

   • Cached

   What is a basic definition of keep? Keep means to hold on to something and not let it leave your possession. Keep can also mean to store something in a certain place.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishkeep verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

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

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › keepKeep - definition of keep by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › keep

   • Cached

   1. To retain possession of: kept the change; must keep your composure. 2. To have as a supply: keep spare parts in case of emergency. 3. a. To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support: "There's little to earn and many to keep" (Charles Kingsley). b. To support (a mistress or lover) financially.

8. www.yourdictionary.com › keepKeep Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

   www.yourdictionary.com › keep

   • Cached

   Keep Definition. To retain possession of. Kept the change; must keep your composure. To continue; go on; persevere or persist. To keep on talking. To take care of, or have and take care or charge of. To have as a supply. Keep spare parts in case of emergency.

9. www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryKEEP definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

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   Keep is used with some nouns to indicate that someone does something for a period of time or continues to do it. For example, if you keep a grip on something, you continue to hold or control it.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryKEEP | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

    • Cached

    KEEP meaning: 1. to have something permanently or for the whole of a period of time: 2. to regularly store…. Learn more.

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

    www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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    Keep is used with some nouns to indicate that someone does something for a period of time or continues to do it. For example, if you keep a grip on something, you continue to hold or control it. Until last year, the regime kept a tight grip on the country.