keep
vb , keeps, keeping, kept
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; sometimes foll by: 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 when 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 (Chiefly Brit) to have habitually in stock
this shop keeps all kinds of wool
20 ♦
how are you keeping? how are you?
21 ♦
keep tabs on
Informal to keep a watchful eye on
22 ♦
keep track of See →
track →
14
23 ♦
keep time See →
time →
42
24 ♦
keep wicket to play as wicketkeeper in the game of cricket
25 ♦
you can keep it
Informal I have no interest in what you are offering
n
26 living or support
he must work for his keep
27 Archaic charge or care
28 (Also called)
dungeon, donjon the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
a completely; permanently
b 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 (Old English cepan to observe; compare Old Saxon kapon to look, Old Norse kopa to stare)
keep at
vb prep
1 intr to persevere with or persist in
2 tr to constrain (a person) to continue doing (a task)
keep away
vb adv; often foll by: from
1 to refrain or prevent from coming (near)
2 to stop using, touching, etc.
keep back
vb adv; often foll by: from
1 tr to refuse to reveal or disclose
2 to prevent, be prevented, or refrain from advancing, entering, etc.
keep down
vb adv, mainly tr
1 to repress; hold in submission
2 to restrain or control
he had difficulty keeping his anger down
3 to cause not to increase or rise
prices were kept down for six months
4 intr not to show oneself to one's opponents; lie low
5 to cause (food) to stay in the stomach; not vomit
keep fit
n
a exercises designed to promote physical fitness if performed regularly
b (as modifier)
keep-fit classes
keep from
vb prep
1 foll by a gerund to prevent or restrain (oneself or another); refrain or cause to refrain
2 tr to protect or preserve from
keep in
vb mainly adv
1 intr; also prep to stay indoors
2 tr to restrain (an emotion); repress
3 tr to detain (a schoolchild) after hours as a punishment
4 (of a fire) to stay alight or to cause (a fire) to stay alight
5 tr, prep to allow a constant supply of
her prize money kept her in new clothes for a year
6 ♦
keep in with to maintain good relations with
keep off
vb
1 to stay or cause to stay at a distance (from)
2 prep not to eat or drink or prevent from eating or drinking
3 prep to avoid or cause to avoid (a topic)
4 intr, adv not to start
the rain kept off all day
keep on
vb adv
1 to continue or persist in (doing something)
keep on running
3 tr to continue to employ
the firm kept on only ten men
4 intr; foll by: about to persist in talking (about)
5 intr; foll by: at to nag (a person)
keep out
vb adv
1 to remain or cause to remain outside
a to remain or cause to remain unexposed to
keep out of the sun
b to avoid or cause to avoid
the boss is in an angry mood, so keep out of her way
keep to
vb prep
1 to adhere to or stand by or cause to adhere to or stand by
to keep to a promise
2 to confine or be confined to
a intr to avoid the society of others
b tr to refrain from sharing or disclosing
4 ♦
keep oneself to oneself to avoid the society of others
keep under
vb
1 to remain or cause to remain below (a surface)
2 tr, adv to cause to remain unconscious
3 tr, adv to hold in submission
keep up
vb adv
1 tr to maintain (prices, one's morale) at the present level
2 intr to maintain a pace or rate set by another
3 intr; often foll by: with to remain informed
to keep up with technological developments
4 tr to maintain in good condition
5 tr to hinder (a person) from going to bed at night
the excitement kept the children up well past their bedtime
6 ♦
keep it up to continue a good performance
7 ♦
keep one's chin up to keep cheerful under difficult circumstances
8 ♦
keep one's end up to maintain one's stance or position against opposition or misfortune
9 ♦
keep up with to remain in contact with, esp. by letter
10 ♦
to keep up with (the Joneses)
Informal to compete with (one's neighbours) in material possessions, etc.