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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

keep

Audio Help [keep] Pronunciation Key verb, kept, keep·ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own: If you like it, keep it. Keep the change.

2.	to hold or have the use of for a period of time: You can keep it for the summer.

3.	to hold in a given place; store: You can keep your things in here.

4.	to maintain (some action), esp. in accordance with specific requirements, a promise, etc.: to keep watch; to keep step.

5.	to cause to continue in a given position, state, course, or action: to keep a light burning; to keep a child happy.

6.	to maintain in condition or order, as by care and labor: He keeps his car in good condition.

7.	to maintain in usable or edible condition; preserve: If you want to keep meat for a long time, freeze it.

8.	to hold in custody or under guard, as a prisoner: They kept him in jail.

9.	to cause to stay in a particular place; prevent or restrain from departure: The work kept her at the office.

10.	to have regularly in stock and for sale: to keep a large supply of machine parts.

11.	to maintain in one's service or for one's use or enjoyment: to keep a car and chauffeur.

12.	to associate with: She keeps bad company.

13.	to have the care, charge, or custody of: She keeps my dog when I travel.

14.	to refrain from disclosing; withhold from the knowledge of others: to keep a secret.

15.	to withhold from use; reserve; save: I'll keep this toy until you learn to behave. Keep the good wine for company.

16.	to hold back or restrain: They kept the child from talking. Nothing can keep him from doing it.

17.	to maintain control of; regulate: to keep the peace; to keep your temper.

18.	to maintain by writing: to keep a diary.

19.	to record (business transactions, daily occurrences, etc.) regularly: to keep records; to keep a list of visitors.

20.	to observe; pay obedient regard to (a law, rule, promise, etc.).

21.	to conform to; follow; fulfill: to keep one's word.

22.	to observe (a season, festival, etc.) with formalities or rites: to keep Christmas.

23.	to maintain or carry on, as an establishment, business, etc.; manage.

24.	to guard; protect: He kept her from harm.

25.	to maintain or support: It costs more each year to keep a house.

26.	to support or contribute to the support of in return for sexual or other favors.

27.	to take care of; tend: to keep a vegetable garden.

28.	to raise (livestock): These farmers keep goats and cattle.

29.	to remain in (a place, spot, etc.): Please keep your seats.

30.	to maintain one's position in or on: He kept the job.

31.	to continue to follow (a path, track, course, etc.).

32.	to maintain in active existence, as an assembly, court, or fair.

–verb (used without object)

33.	to continue in an action, course, position, state, etc.: to keep in sight; to keep going.

34.	to remain, or continue to be, as specified: to keep cool.

35.	to remain or stay in a particular place: to keep indoors.

36.	to continue unimpaired or without spoiling: The food will keep on ice.

37.	to admit of being reserved for a future occasion: I have more to tell you, but it will keep.

38.	to keep oneself or itself as specified (fol. by away, back, off, out, etc.): Keep off the grass.

39.	to restrain oneself; refrain (usually fol. by from): Try to keep from smiling.

–noun

40.	board and lodging; subsistence; support: to work for one's keep.

41.	the innermost and strongest structure or central tower of a medieval castle.

42.	keeps, (used with a singular verb) a game of marbles in which the players keep the marbles they have won.

—Verb phrases

43.	keep at, to persist in; be steadfast: You'll never master your French unless you keep at it.

44.

keep back,

a.	to hold in check; restrain: The dikes kept back the floodwaters.

b.	to stay away from: The crowds would not keep back from the barrier.

c.	to refuse to reveal: The prisoner was keeping back vital information.

45.

keep down,

a.	to hold under control or at a reduced or acceptable level: to keep your voice down.

b.	to prevent from going up or increasing: to keep prices down.

46.	keep in with, to stay in someone's favor; be on good terms with: They are social climbers who make certain to keep in with all the right people.

47.	keep on, to continue; persist: If you keep on singing they'll ask you to leave.

48.

keep to,

a.	to adhere to; conform to: She keeps to the rules.

b.	to confine oneself to: to keep to one's bed.

49.

keep up,

a.	to maintain an equal rate of speed, activity, or progress with another or others.

b.	to persevere; continue.

c.	to maintain the good condition of; keep in repair.

d.	Also, keep up on or with. to stay informed: to keep up on current events.

e.	to match one's friends, neighbors, business associates, etc., in success, affluence, etc.

—Idioms

50.

for keeps, Informal.

a.	under the stipulation that one keeps one's winnings.

b.	with serious intent or purpose.

c.	finally; permanently: They decided to settle the argument for keeps.

51.	keep books, to maintain financial records.

52.	keep tab or tabs on. tab¹ (def. 14).

53.	keep time. time (def. 50).

54.

keep to oneself,

a.	to remain aloof from the society of others.

b.	to hold (something) as secret or confidential: I'll tell you only if you promise to keep it to yourself.

55.	keep track of. track (def. 38).

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME kepen, OE cépan to observe, heed, watch, await, take; perh. akin to OE gecōp proper, fitting, capian to look, ON kōpa to stare

]

—Related forms

keep·a·ble, adjective

keep·a·bil·i·ty, noun

—Synonyms 1. Keep, reserve, retain, withhold refer to having and holding in possession. Keep (a common word) and retain (a more formal one) agree in meaning to continue to have or hold, as opposed to losing, parting with, or giving up: to keep a book for a week. To reserve is to keep for some future use, occasion, or recipient, or to hold back for a time: to reserve judgment. To withhold is generally to hold back altogether: to withhold help. 6. preserve. 8. detain, confine. 41. donjon, dungeon, stronghold.

—Antonyms 8. release.

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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
keep up

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

keep Audio Help   (kēp) Pronunciation Key
v.   kept, keep·ing, keeps

v.   tr.

To retain possession of: kept the change; must keep your composure.
To have as a supply: keep an ax in the shed.
1. To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support: "There's little to earn and many to keep" (Charles Kingsley).
2. To support (a mistress or lover) financially.
3. To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
4. To raise: keep chickens.
5. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
6. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
7. To detain: was kept after school.
8. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
9. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
10. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
11. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To put customarily; store: Where do you keep your saw?
1. To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
2. To raise: keep chickens.
3. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
4. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
5. To detain: was kept after school.
6. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
7. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
8. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
9. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To maintain for use or service: an urbanite who didn't keep a car.
To manage, tend, or have charge of: Keep the shop while I'm away.
To preserve (food).
To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action: tried to keep the patient calm.
1. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
2. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
3. To detain: was kept after school.
4. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
5. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
6. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
7. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
1. To detain: was kept after school.
2. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
3. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
4. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
5. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
To adhere or conform to; follow: keep late hours.
To be faithful to; fulfill: keep one's word.
To celebrate; observe.

v. intr.

To remain in a state or condition; stay: keep in line; keep quiet; kept well.
To continue to do: keep on talking; keep guessing.
To remain fresh or unspoiled: The dessert won't keep.
To restrain oneself; hold oneself back: I couldn't keep from eavesdropping.

Care; charge: The child is in my keep for the day.
The means by which one is supported: earn one's keep.
1. The stronghold of a castle.
2. A jail.
3. To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
4. To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
To prevent from growing, accomplishing, or succeeding: keep the revolutionaries down.
To hold under control or at a reduced level: Keep your voice down.
To refrain from vomiting: Although seasick, I managed to keep my food down.
To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
1. To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
2. To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
To continue at the same level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
To continue to pay off (a financial obligation).
To match one's competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: couldn't keep up with his friends who went into business.
To remain adequately informed: loved to keep up on the gossip.

Phrasal Verb(s):
keep at
To persevere in work or an action.
keep down

To prevent from growing, accomplishing, or succeeding: keep the revolutionaries down.
To hold under control or at a reduced level: Keep your voice down.
To refrain from vomiting: Although seasick, I managed to keep my food down.

keep off
To stay away from.
keep to
To adhere to: keep to the original purpose.
keep up

To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
1. To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
2. To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
To continue at the same level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
To continue to pay off (a financial obligation).
To match one's competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: couldn't keep up with his friends who went into business.
To remain adequately informed: loved to keep up on the gossip.

Idiom(s):
for keeps

For an indefinitely long period: gave the ring to me for keeps.
Seriously and permanently: We're separating for keeps.

Idiom(s):
keep an eye on

To watch over attentively; mind.
To watch closely or carefully: keep your eye on the ball.

Idiom(s):
keep an eye out
To be watchful.

Idiom(s):
keep a stiff upper lip
To be courageous or stoic in the face of adversity.

Idiom(s):
keep company

To carry on a courtship: a couple who kept company but never married.
To socialize or associate: keeps company with some tough thugs.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) chin up
To be stalwart, courageous, or optimistic in the face of difficulty.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) eyes open/peeled
To be on the lookout.

Idiom(s):
keep (one's) nose clean Informal
To stay out of trouble.

Idiom(s):
keep pace
To stay even with others, as in a contest.

Idiom(s):
keep (someone) company
To accompany or remain with.

Idiom(s):
keep the wolf from the door
To avoid the privation and suffering resulting from a lack of money: Both spouses had to work in order to keep the wolf from the door.

Idiom(s):
keep time

To indicate the correct time.
Music To maintain the tempo or rhythm.

Idiom(s):
keep to (oneself)

To shun the company of others: She kept to herself all morning.
To refrain from divulging: He kept the news to himself.

[Middle English kepen, from Old English cēpan, to observe, seize.]

Synonyms: These verbs mean to have and maintain in one's possession or control. Keep is the most general: We received a few offers but decided to keep the house.
Retain means to continue to hold, especially in the face of possible loss: Though unhappy, he retained his sense of humor.
Withhold implies reluctance or refusal to give, grant, or allow: The tenant withheld his rent until the owner fixed the boiler.
To reserve is to hold back for the future or for a special purpose: The farmer reserved two acres for an orchard. See Also Synonyms at observe.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

keep up
verb
1.	maintain a required pace or level; "He could not keep up and dropped out of the race"
2.	lengthen or extend in duration or space; "We sustained the diplomatic negotiations as long as possible"; "prolong the treatment of the patient"; "keep up the good work" [syn: prolong]
3.	keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction; "We preserve these archeological findings"; "The old lady could not keep up the building"; "children must be taught to conserve our national heritage"; "The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts" [syn: conserve]
4.	keep informed; "He kept up on his country's foreign policies"
5.	prevent from going to bed at night; "The anticipation of the trip kept the children up all night"; "I kept myself up all night studying for the exam"

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