keep
keep (kēp)
transitive verb kept, keep′·ing
- to observe or pay regard to; specif.,
- to observe with due or prescribed acts, ceremonies, etc.; celebrate or solemnize to keep the Sabbath
- to fulfill (a promise, etc.)
- to follow or adhere to (a routine, diet, etc.)
- to go on maintaining to keep pace
- Archaic to attend (church, etc.) regularly
- to take care of, or have and take care or charge of; specif.,
- to protect; guard; defend
- to look after; watch over; tend
- to raise (livestock)
- to maintain in good order or condition; preserve
- to supply with food, shelter, etc.; provide for; support
- to supply with food or lodging for pay to keep boarders
- to have or maintain in one's service or for one's use to keep servants
- to set down regularly in writing; maintain (a continuous written record) to keep an account of sales
- to make regular entries in; maintain a continuous record of transactions, accounts, or happenings in to keep books of account, to keep a diary
- to carry on; conduct; manage
- to maintain, or cause to stay or continue, in a specified condition, position, etc. to keep an engine running
- to have or hold; specif.,
- to have or hold for future use or for a long time
- to have regularly in stock for sale
- to have or hold and not let go; specif.,
- to hold in custody; prevent from escaping
- to prevent from leaving; detain
- to hold back; restrain to keep someone from talking
- to withhold
- to conceal; not tell (a secret, etc.)
- to continue to have or hold; not lose or give up
- to stay in or at; not leave (a path, course, or place)
Etymology: ME kepen < OE cœpan, to behold, watch out for, lay hold of, akin to MLowG kapen, ON kopa, to stare at < ? IE base *ĝab-, to look at or for
intransitive verb
- to stay or continue in a specified condition, position, etc.
- to continue; go on; persevere or persist: often with on to keep on talking
- to hold oneself back; refrain to keep from telling someone
- to stay in good condition; not become spoiled, sour, stale, etc.; last
- to require no immediate attention a task that will keep until tomorrow
- ☆ Informal to continue in session will school keep all day?
- Now Rare to reside; live; stay
noun
- Obsolete care, charge, or custody
- the strongest, innermost part or central tower of a medieval castle; donjon
- a stronghold; fort; castle
- Rare a keeping or being kept
- what is needed to maintain a person or animal; food and shelter; support; livelihood
for keeps
☆ Informal- with the agreement that the winner will keep what he or she wins
- forever; permanently
keep at
to continue doing, practicing, etc.; persist in (an activity)
keep in with
Informal to remain on good terms with
keep time
- to maintain a set rhythm, beat, tempo, etc. the drummers kept time for the marching band
- to mark the elapsing of time this watch keeps good time
keep to
- to persevere in
- to avoid swerving from; adhere to
- to remain in
keep to oneself
- to avoid the company of others
- to treat (information, etc.) as confidential; not tell
keep up
- to maintain in good order or condition
- to continue; not stop or end
- to maintain the pace; not lag behind
- to remain informed about: with on or with
keep up with
to go or do as fast as; stay even with
keep up with the Joneses
to strive to get all the material things one's neighbors or associates have
keep
v.
To hold
To maintain
To continue
keep going, carry on, persist, sustain; see continue 1, endure 1.To operate
administer, run, direct; see command 2, manage 1.To tend
To remain
stay, continue, last, abide; see continue 1, endure 1, remain 1.To store
To prevent; used with from
To observe
adhere to, fulfill, celebrate; see celebrate 1, follow 2, obey 2. See syn. study at celebrate.
for keeps*
Object
- eye: Look out, we're keeping an eye on you!
- track: Cookies The use of cookies enable us to keep track of your shopping patterns thus enabling us to identify you.
- pace: Both evolved through a series of versions, adding features to keep pace with the machines.
- record: Keep a record of where your site is ranked for search terms Price: $ 167.
Noun phrase with adjective complement
- alive: That small amount of money could help keep companies alive.
- tidy: Kangha A comb to keep the hair tidy.
- clean: I am very interested in the law, plus I would really think I could help keep the streets clean of crime.
- moist: Tears bathe the eye, cleaning out dust and debris and keeping the eye moist.
- happy: What can employers do to keep the Revenue happy?
- safe: Over here, security is about keeping the students safe from outside influences, not about keeping the staff save from their wards.
Adjective complement
- abreast: The journal states that it aims to keep abreast of practical solutions rather than theory.
- up-to-date: More... Tuesday 10 January 2006 News Summaries Keep up-to-date with news from Bath Lit Fest using a RSS newsreader.
- alive: And they slew all the men, but the women they kept alive.
- quiet: Players personally acquainted with monsters who wish to vouch for their ability to cast spells are requested to keep quiet.
- confidential: You agree to keep confidential all course materials supplied to you by the School.
- warm: All trying to keep warm at the start First stop - 100 yards across the roundabout for a comfort stop.
Followed by an intransitive particle
- up: Have you been keeping up with the sporting news?
Particle object:
- repayment: Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Preposition: in
If the red slayer think he slays, Or if the slain think he is slain, They know not well the subtle ways I keep, and pass, and turn again. See Lang 488:90.
Browse dictionary entries near keep
- keenness
- keenly
- keen-sighted
- keen
- Keelung
- keelson
- Keeling Islands
- keelhaul
- keelboat
- keel over
- keep after
- keep alive bits
- keep an appointment
- keep at
- keep away
- keep back
- keep calm
- keep down
- keep from
- keep going
