keep Hear it!

keep Definition

keep (kēp)

transitive verb kept, keep′·ing

  1. to observe or pay regard to; specif.,
    1. to observe with due or prescribed acts, ceremonies, etc.; celebrate or solemnize to keep the Sabbath
    2. to fulfill (a promise, etc.)
    3. to follow or adhere to (a routine, diet, etc.)
    4. to go on maintaining to keep pace
    5. Archaic to attend (church, etc.) regularly
  2. to take care of, or have and take care or charge of; specif.,
    1. to protect; guard; defend
    2. to look after; watch over; tend
    3. to raise (livestock)
    4. to maintain in good order or condition; preserve
    5. to supply with food, shelter, etc.; provide for; support
    6. to supply with food or lodging for pay to keep boarders
    7. to have or maintain in one's service or for one's use to keep servants
    8. to set down regularly in writing; maintain (a continuous written record) to keep an account of sales
    9. to make regular entries in; maintain a continuous record of transactions, accounts, or happenings in to keep books of account, to keep a diary
    10. to carry on; conduct; manage
  3. to maintain, or cause to stay or continue, in a specified condition, position, etc. to keep an engine running
  4. to have or hold; specif.,
    1. to have or hold for future use or for a long time
    2. to have regularly in stock for sale
  5. to have or hold and not let go; specif.,
    1. to hold in custody; prevent from escaping
    2. to prevent from leaving; detain
    3. to hold back; restrain to keep someone from talking
    4. to withhold
    5. to conceal; not tell (a secret, etc.)
    6. to continue to have or hold; not lose or give up
    7. 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

  1. to stay or continue in a specified condition, position, etc.
  2. to continue; go on; persevere or persist: often with on to keep on talking
  3. to hold oneself back; refrain to keep from telling someone
  4. to stay in good condition; not become spoiled, sour, stale, etc.; last
  5. to require no immediate attention a task that will keep until tomorrow
  6. ☆ Informal to continue in session will school keep all day?
  7. Now Rare to reside; live; stay

noun

  1. Obsolete care, charge, or custody
    1. the strongest, innermost part or central tower of a medieval castle; donjon
    2. a stronghold; fort; castle
  3. Rare a keeping or being kept
  4. what is needed to maintain a person or animal; food and shelter; support; livelihood

keep Idioms

for keeps

☆ Informal
  1. with the agreement that the winner will keep what he or she wins
  2. 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

  1. to maintain a set rhythm, beat, tempo, etc. the drummers kept time for the marching band
  2. to mark the elapsing of time this watch keeps good time

keep to

  1. to persevere in
  2. to avoid swerving from; adhere to
  3. to remain in

keep to oneself

  1. to avoid the company of others
  2. to treat (information, etc.) as confidential; not tell

keep up

  1. to maintain in good order or condition
  2. to continue; not stop or end
  3. to maintain the pace; not lag behind
  4. 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 Synonyms

keep

v.

  1. To hold

    retain, grip, grasp, have; see hold 1.

  2. To maintain

    preserve, conserve, care for; see maintain 3, preserve 3.

  3. To continue

    keep going, carry on, persist, sustain; see continue 1, endure 1.

  4. To operate

    administer, run, direct; see command 2, manage 1.

  5. To tend

    care for, minister to, attend; see tend 1.

  6. To remain

    stay, continue, last, abide; see continue 1, endure 1, remain 1.

  7. To store

    deposit, cache, put; see save 3, store.

  8. To prevent; used with from

    stop, block, avert; see hinder, prevent, restrain 1.

  9. To observe

    adhere to, fulfill, celebrate; see celebrate 1, follow 2, obey 2. See syn. study at celebrate.

for keeps*

permanently, finally, for always, for good; see finally 1, forever 1.

keep Usage Examples

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

  • touch: Thanks to everyone who has emailed me - keep in touch.
  • mind: However, the following should be kept in mind.
keep Quotes

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.

—Emerson, RalphWaldo