English Dictionary

Definition of “keep”

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keep (kiːpPronunciation for keep) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms: keeps, keeping, kept, kɛpt
  1. (tr) to have or retain possession of
  2. (tr) to have temporary possession or charge of  ⇒ keep my watch for me during the game 
  3. (tr) to store in a customary place  ⇒ I keep my books in the desk 
  4. to remain or cause to remain in a specified state or condition  ⇒ keep the dog quiet keep ready 
  5. to continue or cause to continue  ⇒ keep the beat keep in step 
  6. (tr) to have or take charge or care of  ⇒ keep the shop for me till I return 
  7. (tr) to look after or maintain for use, pleasure, etc  ⇒ to keep chickens keep two cars 
  8. (tr) to provide for the upkeep or livelihood of
  9. (tr) to support financially, esp in return for sexual favours  ⇒ he keeps a mistress in the country 
  10. to confine or detain or be confined or detained
  11. to withhold or reserve or admit of withholding or reserving  ⇒ your news will keep till later 
  12. (tr) to refrain from divulging or violating  ⇒ to keep a secret keep one's word 
  13. to preserve or admit of preservation
  14. (tr) up to observe with due rites or ceremonies  ⇒ to keep Christmas 
  15. (tr) to maintain by writing regular records in  ⇒ to keep a diary 
  16. 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 
  17. (tr) to associate with (esp in the phrase keep bad company)
  18. (tr) to maintain in existence  ⇒ to keep court in the palace 
  19. (tr) mainly British to have habitually in stock  ⇒ this shop keeps all kinds of wool 
  20. See how are you keeping?
  21. See keep tabs on
  22. See keep track of
  23. See keep time
  24. See keep wicket
  25. See you can keep it

noun

  1. living or support  ⇒ he must work for his keep 
  2. archaic charge or care
  3. dungeondonjonthe main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
  4. informal 
    1. completely; permanently
    2. for the winner or possessor to keep permanently

See also

keep at , keep away , keep back , keep down , keep from , keep in , keep off , keep on , keep out , keep to , keep under , keep up

Word Origin

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

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= remain, stay, continue to be go on being carry on being
= prevent, hold back, deter, inhibit, block, stall, restrain, hamstring, hamper, withhold, hinder, retard, impede, shackle, keep back,
= continue, go on, carry on, persist in persevere in remain,
= hold on to, maintain, retain, keep possession of save, preserve, nurture, cherish, conserve,
= store, put, place, house, hold, deposit, pile, stack, heap, amass, stow,
= carry, stock, have, hold, sell, supply, handle, trade in, deal in,
= comply with carry out, honour, fulfil, hold, follow, mind, respect, observe, respond to embrace, execute, obey, heed, conform to adhere to, abide by, act upon,
= record, report, write, document, log, chronicle, take down, set down,
= support, maintain, sustain, provide for, mind, fund, board, finance, feed, look after, foster, shelter, care for, take care of, nurture, safeguard, cherish, nourish, subsidize,
= raise, own, maintain, tend, farm, breed, look after, rear, care for, bring up, nurture, nourish,
= manage, run, administer, be in charge (of) rule, direct, handle, govern, oversee, supervise, preside over superintend,
= delay, detain, hinder, impede, stop, limit, check, arrest, curb, constrain, obstruct, retard, set back,
= stay fresh be suitable be safe to eat remain flavoursome
= associate with mix with mingle with hang out with hang with, be friends with consort with run around with hobnob with socialize with hang about with fraternize with
= honour, mark, respect, celebrate, observe, acknowledge, recognize, commemorate, ritualize, solemnize, perform,
= board, food, maintenance, upkeep, means, living, support, nurture, livelihood, subsistence, kai, nourishment, sustenance,
= tower, castle, stronghold, dungeon, citadel, fastness, donjon,

Translations

  • British English: keep Pronunciation for keep If someone keeps still or warm, they stay like that.We lit a fire to keep warm. `Keep still!'kiːp VERB We lit a fire to keep warm. `Keep still!'
  • Spanish: mantenerse Pronunciation for mantenerse v
  • French: garder Pronunciation for garder vt
  • German: behalten Pronunciation for behalten v
  • Chinese: 保持Pronunciation for 保持 vt
  • Arabic: يَبْقَىPronunciation for يَبْقَى v
  • Portuguese: guardarPronunciation for guardar vt
  • Russian: держатьPronunciation for держать vt
  • Croatian: zadržatiPronunciation for zadržati v
  • Czech: nechat (si)Pronunciation for nechat (si) vt nechávat (si)
  • Danish: holdePronunciation for holde v
  • Dutch: houdenPronunciation for houden vt
  • Finnish: säilyttääPronunciation for säilyttää v
  • Greek: διατηρώPronunciation for διατηρώ v
  • Italian: tenerePronunciation for tenere v
  • Japanese: 持ち続けるPronunciation for 持ち続ける v
  • Korean: ...을 간직하다Pronunciation for ...을 간직하다 vt
  • Norwegian: beholdePronunciation for beholde v
  • Polish: zatrzymywaćPronunciation for zatrzymywać vt trzymać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: guardarPronunciation for guardar vt
  • European Spanish: guardar Pronunciation for guardar v
  • Swedish: behållPronunciation for behåll vt
  • Thai: เก็บPronunciation for เก็บ vt
  • Turkish: tutmakPronunciation for tutmak vt
  • Vietnamese: giữPronunciation for giữ v
  • British English: keep If someone keeps away from a place, they do not go near it.Keep away from the road.kiːp VERB Keep away from the road.
  • French: rester à l'écart vi
  • Arabic: يَبْعُدُ عَنْ v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: manter vt
  • British English: keep If you keep doing something, you do it many times or you do it some more.I keep forgetting to take my umbrella.kiːp VERB I keep forgetting to take my umbrella.
  • French: ne pas arrêter de vi
  • Arabic: يَسْتَمِرُّ v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: continuar vt
  • British English: keep When you keep something, you store it somewhere.She kept her money under the bed.kiːp VERB She kept her money under the bed.
  • French: garder vt
  • Arabic: يَحْفَظُ v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: guardar vt

Usage examples

  • Tamylan, the only slave she had been allowed to keep , helped her dress on the morning of the wedding.
    Jennifer Fallon, TREASON KEEP (2001)
  • She is extremely affectionate, and is simply content to have someone around to keep her company.
    Country Life (2004)
  • The report found that precautionary measures taken to keep FMD out of Ireland had an impact on Irish tourism.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • With interest rates low and many tenants now looking to buy, landlords may have to work a little harder to keep their tenants.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Such an answer will remove uncertainty and keep our meaning structure whole.
    Dorothy Rowe, BEYOND FEAR (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'K'

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