Definition of keep - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
retainkeep something so you do not lose it
- I want to keep this old photo.
2.
stay the samecontinue in a specified state or condition
- Keep the soup warm until dinner.
3.
habitcontinue doing something without stopping
- She keeps running every morning.
4.
same statecause someone or something to continue in a specified state or condition
- This lid will keep the soup warm for hours.
5.
observeadhere to or follow
- Keep the rules to avoid trouble..
6.
commitmentfulfill a promise or agreement
- She always keeps her promises.
7.
protectguard or watch over
- Keep the castle gates..
8.
controlprevent someone from doing something
- The rain kept us from going outside.
9.
confidentialityrefrain from sharing a secret
- He promised to keep the secret.
10.
animalraise and care for animals
- They keep chickens in their backyard.
11.
officerecord information regularly
- She keeps a diary of her travels.
Noun
1.
architecturemain tower of a medieval castle
- The keep was the last line of defense.
2.
living expensesDated UK cost of food and necessities for livingDated UK
- He worked hard to earn his keep.
3.
responsibility careresponsibility for watching over and caring for something
- The dog was left in my keep while they traveled.
Images of keep
main tower of a medieval castle
Expressions with keep
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
maintain the pace or speed
He kept going at a steady pace throughout the race..
continue doing something
She decided to keep on studying despite the noise..
maintain the same speed or level
He struggled to keep up with the fast runners.
retain something or someone nearby
I keep a flashlight around in case of power outages.
maintain communication with someone
We promised to keep in touch after graduation.
not lose track of location in reading or process
Use a bookmark to keep your place in the book.
wash and care for your body regularly
He keeps himself clean by showering and brushing his teeth every morning.
watch or control something to prevent problems
You should keep a check on your spending.
watch something or someone very carefully
She will keep a close eye on the kids.
monitor something or someone carefully
The security team keeps a close watch on the premises.
watch carefully for something or someone
Keep an eye out for the delivery truck.
continue working on something persistently
She decided to keep at her studies despite the distractions.
stay at a distance or refrain from approaching
The guard asked the crowd to keep back.
spend time with people who have a bad influence
He started to fail school when he began to keep bad company.
spend time with someone socially
She likes to keep company with her neighbors.
maintain a low temperature
The refrigerator helps to keep cool the food and drinks.
prevent from increasing or rising
They took measures to keep down the inflation rate..
prevent someone from doing something
She couldn't keep from laughing at the joke.
remain in a place without a clear purpose or goal
They keep hanging about the park all afternoon.
continue to believe in the possibility of success
The team keeps hope alive even when the odds are against them.
prevent from going out
The school decided to keep in the students during the storm..
store something in a cold place to keep it fresh
We keep the meat in cold storage to prevent spoilage.
remember or consider something important
Keep in mind the deadline is tomorrow.
stay physically healthy and fit by exercising or eating well
She works out daily to keep in shape.
Origin of keep
Old English, cepan (to seize)
Terms with keep included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
grip
keep something in your hand
general avoidance
keep away from or stop oneself from doing
safety
keep someone or something safe from harm
storage
keep something in a place for future use
physical support
help keep from falling or collapsing
crime
criminal taking property to keep or sell
commitment
not keep a commitment
warmth
fasten all buttons to keep warm
using fingers
use fingers to keep track of numbers while counting
embrace carry
keep someone or something close using your arms
keep holding
maintain a grip on something
physical posture
keep your head raised and not look down
stability
keep or put something in a steady position
covering
wrap items in thin metal to keep them fresh
secrecy
keep information secret from others
security group
group of people or vehicles sent to keep watch
acr: Portable Document Format
file type for sharing documents that keep their layout
acr: personal identification number
number used to keep things safe
retail
keep goods available for sale
clothing
providing insulation to keep the body warm
peacekeeping
keep from entering, or stop from starting, a quarrel
crib
bed with high sides to keep a baby from falling out
swimming accessory
tight-fitting cap worn to keep hair dry while swimming
confidentiality
used to keep something being discussed secret
Examples of keep in a sentence
Keep at least one copy of the contract. This lid will keep the soup hot. Soft music kept the baby calm. Keep practicing until the melody feels natural. Please keep talking while I make dinner. The news kept everyone calm.
This lid keeps the soup hot. You must keep the schedule strictly. They were advised to keep the guidelines. He promised to keep his word. They keep their commitments without fail. Keep the children safe. Keep the treasure hidden. The locked gate kept visitors from entering. Her injury kept her from competing. She swore to keep her friend's secret safe. They agreed to keep the information confidential. Farmers keep sheep for wool production. They keep bees for honey in the summer. The clinic keeps records of every appointment. Please keep a log of your expenses. The keep housed the castle's main armory. They retreated to the keep during the siege. She struggled to cover her keep after losing her job. His keep was provided by the generous scholarship. The museum's keep of rare books is impressive. They placed the puppy in her keep until adoption day.
View all translations of keep
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:garder, donjon, ...
- German:behalten, Bergfried, ...
- Italian:tenere, mastio, ...
- Spanish:guardar, torre del homenaje, ...
- Portuguese:guardar, torre de menagem, ...
- Chinese:保留, 城堡主塔, ...
- Japanese:取っておく, 天守閣, ...
- Arabic:احْتَفَظَ, بُرْج القَلْعَة, ...
- Hebrew:לִשְׁמֹר, מִגְדַּל שְׁמִירָה, ...
- Russian:сохранять, донжон, ...
- Ukrainian:зберігати, донжон, ...
- Hindi:संभाल कर रखना, किला, ...
icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.
icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.
icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the