Meaning & Definition of Keep in English
Keep
noun
1. The financial means whereby one lives
- "Each child was expected to pay for their keep"
- "He applied to the state for support"
- "He could no longer earn his own livelihood"
- support,
- keep,
- livelihood,
- living,
- bread and butter,
- sustenance
2. The main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
- keep,
- donjon,
- dungeon
3. A cell in a jail or prison
- hold,
- keep
verb
1. Keep in a certain state, position, or activity
- E.g., "keep clean"
- "Hold in place"
- "She always held herself as a lady"
- "The students keep me on my toes"
- keep,
- maintain,
- hold
2. Continue a certain state, condition, or activity
- "Keep on working!"
- "We continued to work into the night"
- "Keep smiling"
- "We went on working until well past midnight"
- continue,
- go on,
- proceed,
- go along,
- keep
3. Retain possession of
- "Can i keep my old stuffed animals?"
- "She kept her maiden name after she married"
- keep,
- hold on
4. Stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
- "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"
- "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"
- "Keep the child from eating the marbles"
- prevent,
- keep
5. Conform one's action or practice to
- "Keep appointments"
- "She never keeps her promises"
- "We kept to the original conditions of the contract"
- observe,
- keep
6. Stick to correctly or closely
- "The pianist kept time with the metronome"
- "Keep count"
- "I cannot keep track of all my employees"
- observe,
- keep,
- maintain
7. Look after
- Be the keeper of
- Have charge of
- "He keeps the shop when i am gone"
- keep
8. Maintain by writing regular records
- "Keep a diary"
- "Maintain a record"
- "Keep notes"
- keep,
- maintain
9. Supply with room and board
- "He is keeping three women in the guest cottage"
- "Keep boarders"
- keep
10. Allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
- "We cannot continue several servants any longer"
- "She retains a lawyer"
- "The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff"
- "Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on"
- "We kept the work going as long as we could"
- "She retained her composure"
- "This garment retains its shape even after many washings"
- retain,
- continue,
- keep,
- keep on
11. Supply with necessities and support
- "She alone sustained her family"
- "The money will sustain our good cause"
- "There's little to earn and many to keep"
- sustain,
- keep,
- maintain
12. Fail to spoil or rot
- "These potatoes keep for a long time"
- keep,
- stay fresh
13. Behave as expected during of holidays or rites
- "Keep the commandments"
- "Celebrate christmas"
- "Observe yom kippur"
- observe,
- celebrate,
- keep
14. Keep under control
- Keep in check
- "Suppress a smile"
- "Keep your temper"
- "Keep your cool"
- restrain,
- keep,
- keep back,
- hold back
15. Maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
- "May god keep you"
- keep,
- preserve
16. Raise
- "She keeps a few chickens in the yard"
- "He keeps bees"
- keep
17. Retain rights to
- "Keep my job for me while i give birth"
- "Keep my seat, please"
- "Keep open the possibility of a merger"
- keep open,
- hold open,
- keep,
- save
18. Store or keep customarily
- "Where do you keep your gardening tools?"
- keep
19. Have as a supply
- "I always keep batteries in the freezer"
- "Keep food for a week in the pantry"
- "She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator"
- keep
20. Maintain for use and service
- "I keep a car in the countryside"
- "She keeps an apartment in paris for her shopping trips"
- keep,
- maintain
21. Hold and prevent from leaving
- "The student was kept after school"
- keep
22. Prevent (food) from rotting
- "Preserved meats"
- "Keep potatoes fresh"
- preserve,
- keep