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   keep

   /kiːp/

   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: "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: "rice will keep almost indefinitely without spoiling"
   • ▪ retain one's place in or on (a seat or saddle, the ground, etc.) in spite of difficulty: "can you keep your saddle, or shall I carry you on a pillion?"
   • ▪ be in a specified state of health: British "he had not been keeping well"
   • ▪ make (someone) do something for a period of time: "I have kept her waiting too long"
   • ▪ cause to be late; delay: "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 path or course): archaic "the soldiers removed, keeping their course towards 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): "the big fellow keeps a fish shop near the post office" 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 favours: "he was keeping a woman on the side"
   • 4. honour or fulfil (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 offulfilcarry outact onmake goodbe bound byhonourkeep toredeemkeep faith withstand byadhere toexecutedischargeperformrare:effectuateOpposite breakdisobey
   • ▪ observe (a religious occasion) in the prescribed manner: "today's consumers do not keep the Sabbath" Similar observerespecthonourhold sacredrecognizeacknowledgecelebratemarksolemnizeritualizeceremonializecommemorateOpposite ignoreneglect
   • ▪ pay due regard to (a law or custom): "if you kept small rules, you could break the big ones" Similar observerespecthonourhold 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 each item"

   noun

   • 1. food, clothes, and other essentials for living: "the Society are paying for your keep"
   • ▪ the cost of the essentials for living.
   • 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. People also ask

   What does keep mean in English?

   • [V P -ing] 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.

   KEEP definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/keep

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   What does keep a person mean?

   • [transitive] keep somebody/yourself to provide what is necessary for somebody to live; to support somebody by paying for food, etc. He scarcely earns enough to keep himself and his family. [transitive] keep somebody to delay somebody synonym hold up You're an hour late—what kept you? I won't keep you long. I've just got a couple of quick questions.

   keep verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/keep_1

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   What is the difference between keep and retain?

   • These verbs mean to have and maintain in one's possession or control. Keep is the most general: We received a few offers but decided to keep the house. Retain means to continue to hold, especially in the face of possible loss: Though unhappy, he retained his sense of humor.

   Keep - definition of keep by The Free Dictionary

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   What is the past tense of keep?

   • If you keep something, it means that you are making sure it stays yours and doesn’t leave your possession. For example, if you don’t give money to someone, then you are keeping it. The past tense of keep is kept. Real-life examples: Most people prefer to keep money rather than give it away or spend it.

   KEEP Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What does keeping a change mean?

   • 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. 4.

   Keep - definition of keep by The Free Dictionary

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   What does 'keep out' mean?

   • to tell others very little about oneself, and not to be very friendly or sociable. not to (allow to) enter. The notice at the building site said `Keep out!';

   Keep - definition of keep by The Free Dictionary

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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.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.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › keep

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   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.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › keep

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   Keep (a common word) and retain (a more formal one) agree in meaning to continue to have or hold, as opposed to losing, parting with, or giving up: to keep a book for a week. To reserve is to keep for some future use, occasion, or recipient, or to hold back for a time: to reserve judgment.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   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.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryKEEP | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

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

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionkeep verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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