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 keep keep /ˈkiːp/

noun

  1. A cell in a jail or prison  ( hold , keep )
    a cell in a jail or prison
  2. The main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress  ( donjon , keep , dungeon )
    the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
     The castle's dungeon was cold and damp, with thick stone walls.
    The castle's dungeon was cold and damp, with thick stone walls.
  3. The financial means whereby one lives  ( keep , sustenance , bread and butter , livelihood , living , support )
    the financial means whereby one lives
     Each child was expected to pay for their keep
    each child was expected to pay for their keep
     He applied to the state for support
    he applied to the state for support
     He could no longer earn his own livelihood
    he could no longer earn his own livelihood

verb

  1. () Cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., keep clean'  ( maintain , hold , keep )
    cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., keep clean'
     Hold in place
    hold in place
     She always held herself as a lady
    She always held herself as a lady
     The students keep me on my toes
    The students keep me on my toes
  2. () Continue a certain state, condition, or activity  ( proceed , go along , keep , continue , go on )
    continue a certain state, condition, or activity
     Keep on working!
    Keep on working!
     We continued to work into the night
    We continued to work into the night
     Keep smiling
    Keep smiling
     We went on working until well past midnight
    We went on working until well past midnight
  3. () Retain possession of  ( hold on , keep )
    retain possession of
     Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
    Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
     She kept her maiden name after she married
    She kept her maiden name after she married
  4. () Stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state  ( keep , prevent )
    stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
     We must prevent the cancer from spreading
    We must prevent the cancer from spreading
     His snoring kept me from falling asleep
    His snoring kept me from falling asleep
     Keep the child from eating the marbles
    Keep the child from eating the marbles
  5. () Conform one's action or practice to  ( observe , keep )
    conform one's action or practice to
     Keep appointments
    keep appointments
     She never keeps her promises
    she never keeps her promises
     We kept to the original conditions of the contract
    We kept to the original conditions of the contract
  6. () Stick to correctly or closely  ( maintain , observe , keep )
    stick to correctly or closely
     The pianist kept time with the metronome
    The pianist kept time with the metronome
     Keep count
    keep count
     I cannot keep track of all my employees
    I cannot keep track of all my employees
  7. () Look after; be the keeper of; have charge of  ( keep )
    look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
     He keeps the shop when I am gone
    He keeps the shop when I am gone
  8. () Maintain by writing regular records  ( maintain , keep )
    maintain by writing regular records
     Keep a diary
    keep a diary
     Maintain a record
    maintain a record
     Keep notes
    keep notes
  9. () Supply with necessities and support  ( sustain , keep , maintain )
    supply with necessities and support
     She alone sustained her family
    She alone sustained her family
     The money will sustain our good cause
    The money will sustain our good cause
     There's little to earn and many to keep
    There's little to earn and many to keep
  10. () Allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature  ( keep on , continue , retain , keep )
    allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
     We cannot continue several servants any longer
    We cannot continue several servants any longer
     She retains a lawyer
    She retains a lawyer
     The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
    The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
     Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
    Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
     We kept the work going as long as we could
    We kept the work going as long as we could
     She retained her composure
    She retained her composure
     This garment retains its shape even after many washings
    this garment retains its shape even after many washings
  11. () Supply with room and board  ( keep )
    supply with room and board
     He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
    He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
     Keep boarders
    keep boarders
  12. () Behave as expected during of holidays or rites  ( keep , observe , celebrate )
    behave as expected during of holidays or rites
     Keep the commandments
    Keep the commandments
     Celebrate Christmas
    celebrate Christmas
     Observe Yom Kippur
    Observe Yom Kippur
  13. () Fail to spoil or rot  ( stay fresh , keep )
    fail to spoil or rot
     These potatoes keep for a long time
    These potatoes keep for a long time
  14. () Maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger  ( preserve , keep )
    maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
     May God keep you
    May God keep you
  15. Prevent (food) from rotting  ( keep , preserve )
    prevent (food) from rotting
     Preserved meats
    preserved meats
     Keep potatoes fresh
    keep potatoes fresh
  16. Prevent the action or expression of  ( hold back , keep , keep back , restrain )
    prevent the action or expression of
     Hold back your anger
    hold back your anger
     Keep your cool
    keep your cool
     She struggled to restrain her impatience at the delays
    she struggled to restrain her impatience at the delays
  17. Hold and prevent from leaving  ( keep )
    hold and prevent from leaving
     The student was kept after school
    The student was kept after school
  18. Maintain for use and service  ( keep , maintain )
    maintain for use and service
     I keep a car in the countryside
    I keep a car in the countryside
     She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
    She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
  19. Have as a supply  ( keep )
    have as a supply
     I always keep batteries in the freezer
    I always keep batteries in the freezer
     Keep food for a week in the pantry
    keep food for a week in the pantry
     She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator
    She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator
  20. Store or keep customarily  ( keep )
    store or keep customarily
     Where do you keep your gardening tools?
    Where do you keep your gardening tools?
  21. Retain rights to  ( hold open , keep , keep open , save )
    retain rights to
     Keep my job for me while I give birth
    keep my job for me while I give birth
     Keep my seat, please
    keep my seat, please
     Keep open the possibility of a merger
    keep open the possibility of a merger
  22. Raise  ( keep )
    raise
     She keeps a few chickens in the yard
    She keeps a few chickens in the yard
     He keeps bees
    he keeps bees