keep in English dictionary

  • keep

    Meanings and definitions of "keep"

    • (transitive) to maintain possession of
    • (transitive) to maintain the condition of
    • (transitive, archaic) To remain in, to be confined to
    • (obsolete) to wait for, keep watch for
    • (transitive) to restrain
    • (transitive) to protect, guard (someone from something)
    • (intransitive) to continue
    • (intransitive) to remain edible or otherwise usable
    • (intransitive, copulative) to remain in a state
    • (intransitive, cricket) to act as wicket-keeper
    • (transitive, of livestock) to raise; to care for
    • (transitive) to supply with necessities and financially support a person
    • (obsolete) Care, notice
    • (historical) The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls.
    • The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance.
    • noun
      (obsolete)
      Care, notice
    • noun
      (historical)
      The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls. (According to Wikipedia:keep, the word comes "from the Middle English term kype, meaning basket or cask, and was a term applied to the shell keep at Guînes, said to resemble a barrel".)
    • noun
      The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance.
    • noun
      The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge.
    • noun
      The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case.
    • noun
      (obsolete)
      That which is kept in charge; a charge.
    • noun
      (engineering)
      A cap for holding something, such as a journal box, in place.
    • verb
      To continue in (a course or mode of action); not to intermit or fall from; to uphold or maintain.
    • verb
      (heading, transitive)
      To hold the status of something.
    • verb
      (heading, intransitive)
      To hold or be held in a state.
    • verb
      (obsolete)
      To wait for, keep watch for.
    • verb
      (intransitive, cricket)
      To act as wicket-keeper.
    • verb
      (intransitive, obsolete)
      To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.
    • verb
      (intransitive, obsolete)
      To be in session; to take place.
    • verb
      (transitive)
      To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate.
    • verb
      (transitive, dated)
      To confine oneself to; not to quit; to remain in.
    • verb
      (transitive, dated, by extension)
      To visit (a place) often; to frequent.
    • to maintain possession of
    • to maintain the condition of; to preserve
    • to remain in, to be confined to
    • to restrain
    • to continue
    • of livestock: to raise; to care for
    • supply with necessities and financially support a person
    • main tower
    • support
    • To maintain possession of something.
    • (to) keep
    • (to) rear
    • keep (i.e. a promise)
    • keep (for later)
    • keep (guest)
    • keep well (food)
    • leave (letter) till called for
    • The uninhabited main tower of a medieval castle which served as defense and status symbol.
    • Highest and most fortified tower of a castle.
    • Mantener algo encerrado de manera de impedir que se aleje.
    • noun
      a cell in a jail or prison
    • noun
      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"
    • noun
      the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
    • verb
      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"
    • verb
      behave as expected during of holidays or rites; "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur"
    • verb
      cause to continue 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"
    • verb
      conform one's action or practice to; "keep appointments"; "she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original conditions of the contract"
    • verb
      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"
    • verb
      fail to spoil or rot; "These potatoes keep for a long time"
    • verb
      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"
    • verb
      hold and prevent from leaving; "The student was kept after school"
    • verb
      look after; be the keeper of; have charge of; "He keeps the shop when I am gone"
    • verb
      maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"
    • verb
      maintain for use and service; "I keep a car in the countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips"
    • verb
      maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger; "May God keep you"
    • verb
      prevent (food) from rotting; "preserved meats"; "keep potatoes fresh"
    • verb
      prevent the action or expression of; "hold back your anger"; "keep your cool"; "she struggled to restrain her impatience at the delays"
    • verb
      raise; "She keeps a few chickens in the yard"; "he keeps bees"
    • verb
      retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"; "She kept her maiden name after she married"
    • verb
      retain rights to; "keep my job for me while I give birth"; "keep my seat, please"; "keep open the possibility of a merger"
    • verb
      stick to correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees"
    • verb
      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"
    • verb
      store or keep customarily; "Where do you keep your gardening tools?"
    • verb
      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"
    • verb
      supply with room and board; "He is keeping three women in the guest cottage"; "keep boarders"

    Synonyms of "keep" in English dictionary

    support, sustenance, hold over are the top synonyms of "keep" in the English thesaurus.

    Antonyms of "keep" in English dictionary

    lose, discontinue, let are the top antonyms of "keep" in the English thesaurus.

    Grammar and declension of keep

    • keep ( plural  keeps)
    • keep ( third-person singular simple present keeps, present participle keeping, simple past and past participle kept)
    • keep, kept, kept; he ~s; be ~ing
    • keep (third-person singular simple present keeps, present participle keeping, simple past and past participle kept)
  • Keep

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Sample sentences with "keep"

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