keep

verb

\ ˈkēp

kept\ ˈkept

\; keeping

Definition of keep

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to retain in one's possession or power kept the money we found

b : to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing kept the news back

c : to have in control keep your temper

2 : to take notice of by appropriate conduct : fulfill: such as

a : to be faithful to keep a promise

b : to act fittingly in relation to keep the Sabbath

c : to conform to in habits or conduct keep late hours

d : to stay in accord with (a beat) keep time

3 : preserve, maintain: such as

a : to watch over and defend keep us from harm

b(1) : to take care of : tend keep a garden

(2) : support

(3) : to maintain in a good, fitting, or orderly condition —usually used with up

c : to continue to maintain keep watch

d(1) : to cause to remain in a given place, situation, or condition keep him waiting

(2) : to preserve (food) in an unspoiled condition

e(1) : to have or maintain in an established position or relationship keep a mistress —often used with on kept the cook on

(2) : to lodge or feed for pay keep boarders

f(1) : to maintain a record in keep a diary

(2) : to enter in a book keep records

g : to have customarily in stock for sale

4a : to restrain from departure or removal : detain keep children after school

b : hold back, restrain keep them from going kept him back with difficulty

c : save, reserve keep some for later kept some out for a friend

d : to refrain from revealing keep a secret

5 : to confine oneself to keep my room

6a : to stay or continue in keep the path keep your seat

b : to stay or remain on or in usually against opposition : hold kept her ground

7 : conduct, manage keep a tearoom

intransitive verb

1a : to maintain a course, direction, or progress keep to the right

b : to continue usually without interruption keep talking keep quiet keep on smiling

c : to persist in a practice kept bothering them kept on smoking in spite of warnings

2 : stay, remain keep out of the way keep off the grass : such as

a : to stay even —usually used with up keep up with the Joneses

b : to remain in good condition meat will keep in the freezer

c : to remain secret the secret would keep

d : to call for no immediate action the matter will keep until morning

3 : abstain, refrain can't keep from talking

4 : to be in session school will keep through the winter— W. M. Thayer

5 of a quarterback : to retain possession of a football especially after faking a handoff

6 chiefly British : live, lodge

keep an eye on

: watch

keep at

: to persist in doing or concerning oneself with

keep company

: to go together as frequent companions or in courtship

keep house

: to manage a household

keep one's distance or keep at a distance

: to stay aloof : maintain a reserved attitude

keep one's eyes open or keep one's eyes peeled

: to be on the alert : be watchful

keep one's hand in

: to keep in practice

keep one's head down

: to avoid attracting notice

keep one's nose clean

: to avoid trouble especially through good behavior

keep pace

: to stay even also : keep up sense 1

keep step

: to keep in step

keep to

1a : to stay in

b : to limit oneself to

2 : to abide by

keep to oneself

1 : to keep secret kept the facts to myself

2 : to remain solitary or apart from other people

keep

noun

Definition of keep (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the means or provisions by which one is kept earned his keep

2 : one that keeps or protects: such as

a : fortress, castle specifically : the strongest and securest part of a medieval castle

b : one whose job is to keep or tend

c : prison, jail

3 : keeper sense 5

4a : maintenance

b archaic : custody, charge

for keeps

keep

Definition of keep

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