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Definitions for Keep

[1] to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own: If you like it, keep it. Keep the change.
[2] to hold or have the use of for a period of time: You can keep it for the summer.
[3] to hold in a given place; store: You can keep your things in here.
[4] to maintain (some action), especially in accordance with specific requirements, a promise, etc.: to keep watch; to keep step.
[5] to cause to continue in a given position, state, course, or action: to keep a light burning; to keep a child happy.
[6] to maintain in condition or order, as by care and labor: He keeps his car in good condition.
[7] to maintain in usable or edible condition; preserve: If you want to keep meat for a long time, freeze it.
[8] to hold in custody or under guard, as a prisoner: They kept him in jail.
[9] to cause to stay in a particular place; prevent or restrain from departure: The work kept her at the office.
[10] to have regularly in stock and for sale: to keep a large supply of machine parts.
[11] to maintain in one's service or for one's use or enjoyment: to keep a car and chauffeur.
[12] to associate with: She keeps bad company.
[13] to have the care, charge, or custody of: She keeps my dog when I travel.
[14] to refrain from disclosing; withhold from the knowledge of others: to keep a secret.
[15] to withhold from use; reserve; save: I'll keep this toy until you learn to behave. Keep the good wine for company.
[16] to hold back or restrain: They kept the child from talking. Nothing can keep him from doing it.
[17] to maintain control of; regulate: to keep the peace; to keep your temper.
[18] to maintain by writing: to keep a diary.
[19] to record (business transactions, daily occurrences, etc.) regularly: to keep records; to keep a list of visitors.
[20] to observe; pay obedient regard to (a law, rule, promise, etc.).
[21] to conform to; follow; fulfill: to keep one's word.
[22] to observe (a season, festival, etc.) with formalities or rites: to keep Christmas.
[23] to maintain or carry on, as an establishment, business, etc.; manage.
[24] to guard; protect: He kept her from harm.
[25] to maintain or support: It costs more each year to keep a house.
[26] to support or contribute to the support of in return for sexual or other favors.
[27] to take care of; tend: to keep a vegetable garden.
[28] to raise (livestock): These farmers keep goats and cattle.
[29] to remain in (a place, spot, etc.): Please keep your seats.
[30] to maintain one's position in or on: He kept the job.
[31] to continue to follow (a path, track, course, etc.).
[32] to maintain in active existence, as an assembly, court, or fair.
[33] to continue in an action, course, position, state, etc.: to keep in sight; to keep going.
[34] to remain, or continue to be, as specified: to keep cool.
[35] to remain or stay in a particular place: to keep indoors.
[36] to continue unimpaired or without spoiling: The food will keep on ice.
[37] to admit of being reserved for a future occasion: I have more to tell you, but it will keep.
[38] to keep oneself or itself as specified (followed by away, back, off, out, etc.): Keep off the grass.
[39] to restrain oneself; refrain (usually followed by from ): Try to keep from smiling.
[40] board and lodging; subsistence; support: to work for one's keep.
[41] the innermost and strongest structure or central tower of a medieval castle.
[42] keeps, (used with a singular verb ) a game of marbles in which the players keep the marbles they have won.
[43] keep at , to persist in; be steadfast: You'll never master your French unless you keep at it.
[44] keep back , to hold in check; restrain: The dikes kept back the floodwaters. to stay away from: The crowds would not keep back from the barrier. to refuse to reveal: The prisoner was keeping back vital information.
[45] keep down , to hold under control or at a reduced or acceptable level: to keep your voice down. to prevent from going up or increasing: to keep prices down.
[46] keep in with , to stay in someone's favor; be on good terms with: They are social climbers who make certain to keep in with all the right people.
[47] keep on , to continue; persist: If you keep on singing they'll ask you to leave.
[48] keep to , to adhere to; conform to: She keeps to the rules. to confine oneself to: to keep to one's bed.
[49] keep up , 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. Also keep up on /with. to stay informed: to keep up on current events. to match one's friends, neighbors, business associates, etc., in success, affluence, etc.
[50] for keeps , Informal . under the stipulation that one keeps one's winnings. with serious intent or purpose. finally; permanently: They decided to settle the argument for keeps.
[51] keep books , to maintain financial records.
[52] keep tab /tabs on . tab1(def 15) .
[53] keep time . time(def 50) .
[54] keep to oneself , to remain aloof from the society of others. to hold (something) as secret or confidential: I'll tell you only if you promise to keep it to yourself.
[55] keep track of . track(def 38) .
[56] (tr) to have or retain possession of
[57] (tr) to have temporary possession or charge of keep my watch for me during the game
[58] (tr) to store in a customary place I keep my books in the desk
[59] to remain or cause to remain in a specified state or condition keep the dog quiet ; keep ready
[60] to continue or cause to continue keep the beat ; keep in step
[61] (tr) to have or take charge or care of keep the shop for me till I return
[62] (tr) to look after or maintain for use, pleasure, etc to keep chickens ; keep two cars
[63] (tr) to provide for the upkeep or livelihood of
[64] (tr) to support financially, esp in return for sexual favours he keeps a mistress in the country
[65] to confine or detain or be confined or detained
[66] to withhold or reserve or admit of withholding or reserving your news will keep till later
[67] (tr) to refrain from divulging or violating to keep a secret ; keep one's word
[68] to preserve or admit of preservation
[69] (tr sometimes foll by up ) to observe with due rites or ceremonies to keep Christmas
[70] (tr) to maintain by writing regular records in to keep a diary
[71] (when intr, foll by in, on, to, etc ) to stay in, on, or at (a place or position) please keep your seats ; keep to the path
[72] (tr) to associate with (esp in the phrase keep bad company )
[73] (tr) to maintain in existence to keep court in the palace
[74] (tr) mainly British to have habitually in stock this shop keeps all kinds of wool
[75] how are you keeping? how are you?
[76] keep tabs on informal to keep a watchful eye on
[77] keep track of See track (def. 15)
[78] keep time See time (def. 42)
[79] keep wicket to play as wicketkeeper in the game of cricket
[80] you can keep it informal I have no interest in what you are offering
[81] living or support he must work for his keep
[82] archaic charge or care
[83] Also called: dungeon , donjon the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
[84] informal completely; permanently for the winner or possessor to keep permanently

Words related to Keep

preserve, control, enjoy, manage, carry, place, have, conduct, put, retain, save, store, protect, run, continue, support, maintain, sustain, operate, stop

Words nearby Keep

keen about, be, keene, keene's cement, keener, keening, keep, keep a civil tongue in one's head, keep a low profile, keep a sharp lookout, keep a stiff upper lip, keep a straight face

Origin of Keep

before 1000; Middle English kepen, Old English cēpan to observe, heed, watch, await, take; perhaps akin to Old English gecōp proper, fitting, capian to look, Old Norse kōpa to stare

Other words from Keep

keep·a·ble , adjective
keep·a·bil·i·ty , noun

Word origin for Keep

Old English cēpan to observe; compare Old Saxon kapōn to look, Old Norse kōpa to stare

Synonyms for Keep

carry, conduct, control, enjoy, have, manage, place, preserve, put, retain, save, store, accumulate, amass, cache, conserve, deposit, detain, direct, garner, grasp, grip, heap, own, pile, possess, reserve, season, stack, stock, withhold, care for, deal in, hold back, put up, trade in