Definition of keep in English English dictionary
- To wait for, keep watch for
And than Sir Trystrames rode prevayly unto the posterne where kepte hym La Beale Isode, and there she made hym grete chere, and thanked God of his good spede.
- To remain edible or otherwise usable
Latex paint won't keep indefinitely.
- Care, notice
So Sir Gareth strayned hym so that his olde wounde braste ayen on bledynge; but he was hote and corragyous and toke no kepe, but with his grete forse he strake downe the knyght .
- To protect, guard (someone from something)
May the Lord keep you from harm.
- To restrain
I keep my brother out of trouble by keeping him away from his friends and hard at work.
- to supply with necessities and financially support a person
- The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance
He works as a cobbler's apprentice for his keep.
- To continue
I keep taking the tablets, but to no avail.
- The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls
- To remain in, to be confined to
The wrathful skies / Gallow the very wanderers of the dark / And make them keep their caves.
- To remain in a state
The rabbit avoided detection by keeping still.
- To maintain possession of
I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.
- To maintain the condition of
I keep my specimens under glass to protect them.
- to raise; to care for
Of course boys are boys and need watching, but there is little watching necessary when they keep chickens.''.
- To act as wicket-keeper
Godfrey Evans kept for England for many years.
- {n} custody, guard, restraint, a strong tower
- {v} to preserve save, maintain, hold, detain, conceal, obey
- the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"
- If you keep doing something, you do it repeatedly or continue to do it. I keep forgetting it's December I turned back after a while, but he kept walking Keep on means the same as keep. Did he give up or keep on trying?
- If you keep off something or keep away from it, you avoid it. If you keep out of something, you avoid getting involved in it. You can also say that you keep someone off, away from or out of something. I managed to stick to the diet and keep off sweet foods The best way to keep babies off sugar is to go back to the natural diet and eat lots of fresh fruit
- Support
- If you keep it up, you continue working or trying as hard as you have been in the past. You're doing a great job! Keep it up!
- If someone or something keeps you, they delay you and make you late. `What kept you?' --- `I went in the wrong direction.'
- 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"
- raise; "She keeps a few chickens in the yard"; "he keeps bees"
- To last; to endure; to remain unimpaired
- You can say or ask how someone is keeping as a way of saying or asking whether they are well. She hasn't been keeping too well lately
- A strong stone tower; the most heavily fortified part of a castle
- allow to remain in a place or position; "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"
- observe correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees"
- The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge
- {i} wages, living, livelihood; stronghold, strongest part of a medieval castle
- The means or provisions by which one is kept; maintenance; support; as, the keep of a horse
- prevent (food) from rotting; "preserved meats"; "keep potatoes fresh"
- If you try to keep from doing something, you try to stop yourself from doing it. She bit her lip to keep from crying
- To take care; to be solicitous; to watch
- If one thing is in keeping with another, it is suitable in relation to that thing. If one thing is out of keeping with another, it is not suitable in relation to that thing. His office was in keeping with his station and experience
- keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e
- maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger; "May God keep you"
- The innermost and strongest structure of a medieval castle, the keep was sometimes used as living quarters as well as for defense
- Donjon Main tower; final defensive refuge
- maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"
- Keep is used with some nouns to indicate that someone does something for a period of time or continues to do it. For example, if you keep a grip on something, you continue to hold or control it. Until last year, the regime kept a tight grip on the country One of them would keep a look-out on the road behind to warn us of approaching vehicles
- To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out reach
- To record transactions, accounts, or events in; as, to keep books, a journal, etc
- To care; to desire
- To hold; to restrain from departure or removal; not to let go of; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose; to retain; to detain
- "keep clean"; "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady"; "The students keep me on my toes"
- If you keep yourself or keep someone else, you support yourself or the other person by earning enough money to provide food, clothing, money, and other necessary things. She could just about afford to keep her five kids I just cannot afford to keep myself The pay was enough to keep him in whisky for a day or two
- To have habitually in stock for sale
- If you keep going, you continue moving along or doing something that you have started, even if you are tired and would prefer to stop. She forced herself to keep going
- If you keep something, you continue to have it in your possession and do not throw it away, give it away, or sell it. Lathan had to choose between marrying her and keeping his job
- That which keeps or protects; a stronghold; a fortress; a castle; specifically, the strongest and securest part of a castle, often used as a place of residence by the lord of the castle, especially during a siege; the donjon
- celebrate, as of holidays or rites; "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur"
- store or keep customarily; "Where do you keep your gardening tools?"
- the data with the voice message, even when the message is moved from one user to another
- 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"
- the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
- If you keep yourself to yourself or keep to yourself, you stay on your own most of the time and do not mix socially with other people. He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself socialize
- conform one's action or practice to; "keep appointments"; "she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original conditions of the contract"
- 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"
- look after; be the keeper of; have charge of; "He keeps the shop when I am gone"
- in a book
- To attend upon; to have the care of; to tend
- The innermost central tower of a medieval castle which served both as a last defense and as a dungeon and which contained living quarters, a prison, and sometimes a chapel; or a tower-like fortress, square polygonal or round, generally built on a mound as a military outpost
- v t
- To be in session; as, school keeps to-day
- 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"
- keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"
- prevent 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"
- keep a close watch on
- to pay careful attention to a situation or a thing, so that you can deal with any changes or problems
The prime minister asked the home secretary to keep a close watch on the flooding situation.
- keep a cool head
- to keep one's cool; to stay calm
- keep a lid on
- To keep something secret
It's supposed to be a surprise, so try to keep a lid on it, will you?.
- keep a lookout
- To maintain vigilance for someone or something
- keep a lookout
- To maintain vigilance for a possibly dangerous situation
- keep a weather eye open
- to be alert; to concentrate on a matter in hand
- keep a weather eye open
- to maintain a background awareness of something; to remain alert to changes without it occupying your full attention
- keep an eye on
- To watch and pay attention to
I must keep an eye on this sauce in case it curdles.
- keep an eye open
- To maintain vigilance for someone or something
- keep an eye open
- To maintain vigilance for a possibly dangerous situation
- keep an eye out
- To watch for, look for, or search for
I think we're getting close, so keep an eye out for the next street.
- keep an eye peeled
- To look out (for something) attentively
Keep an eye peeled, you never know when the ice-cream truck will pass by.
- keep around
- to keep something near one
I keep a dictionary around when editing this Wiki.
- keep at
- To constrain (a person) to continue doing (a task)
- keep at
- To persist in
- keep away from
- To deny access to
He tried to keep him away from his daughter.
- keep away from
- To avoid
He tried to keep away from danger.
- keep away from
- To evade
He tried to keep away from his pursuers.
- keep company
- To court
He was keeping company with her.
- keep company
- To socialise
If you care about your reputation you ought to be careful who you keep company with.
- keep down
- Not to vomit
It is difficult to keep anything down when you have the flu.
- keep down
- To lie low. To stay concealed by not standing up
You had better keep down or they will see you.
- keep down
- To repress
China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently.
- keep down
- To restrain or control
We must keep then noise down, or the neighbours will complain.
- keep down
- To cause not to increase or rise
It is essential to keep the numbers down to avoid overcrowding.''.
- keep faith
- to retain one's faith
- keep faith
- to continue to have confidence in someone or something, and to support them or it
- keep fit
- exercises designed to promote physical fitness if performed regularly
- keep fit
- To exercise for physical fitness
I keep fit by kickboxing every week.
- keep from
- To protect or preserve from
- keep from
- To prevent or restrain (oneself or another); refrain or cause refrain
- keep going
- to continue functioning
The grandfather clock keeps going for over a week without winding.
- keep going
- to continue
- keep house
- To take care of domestic chores; work as a housekeeper
So I went to keep house with him at the Why Not? and my aunt sent down my bag of clothes, and would have made over to Elzevir the pittance that my father left for my keep, but he said it was not needful, and he would have none of it.
- keep in mind
- To remember; to be mindful of or pay attention
Keep in mind that he does not hear too well anymore, so you may have to speak more loudly.
- keep it down
- To be quiet
Would you guys keep it down in there? I'm trying to sleep.
- keep it on the barber pole
- To do something correctly
- keep it real
- To be authentic, true to oneself; to be cool
- keep it real
- In the imperative, an exhortation used as a departing salutation
- keep it up
- To maintain one's erection
Ever hear of Viagra? It's not my fault you can't keep it up anymore.
- keep it up
- To maintain or continue a positive streak
The new teacher was so enthusiastic, I hope she can keep it up until the end of the year.
- keep mum
- To not talk; especially keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret
Be like dad, keep mum (British wartime poster).
- keep on
- To remain in an existing position
The new boss would like to keep on the present secretary.
- keep on
- persist or continue
Mum, Jimmy keeps on poking me!.
- keep on truckin'
- To continue or persist, regardless of circumstances or setbacks; to keep trying or striving
- keep one on one's toes
- To keep one attentive, active, busy or alert
Four-year-old twins will certainly keep you on your toes!.
- keep one's cards close to one's chest
- To avoid revealing one's thoughts, circumstances, or plans
Abdullah has not yet revealed his choice for the No 2 post when he takes over as prime minister, preferring to keep his cards close to his chest.
- keep one's cool
- To remain composed, calm, and even-tempered, especially in a provocative situation
Fighting back panic, she tried to keep her cool and find a way out from under the rubble.
- keep one's counsel
- To keep a secret for someone else; to be discreet, careful, or circumspect in what one says concerning someone else's thoughts, deeds, or situation
Standish will keep our counsel, and the news will be old before it's known.
- keep one's counsel
- To keep one's own business private; to be discreet, careful, or circumspect in what one says concerning one's own thoughts, deeds, or situation
Khomeini's approach to decision making is to keep his counsel at first, allowing the advocates of different options to debate issues openly.
- keep one's eye in
- To keep in practice
- keep one's eye on the ball
- To maintain one's concentration fixed on one important theme
My ethos has always been to be very straight with people, tell it as it is. It doesn't often make people happy but I found that over a period of time it's better to be that way. So being straight, also being very focused on your objectives, keep your eye on the ball and not get deflected away from it.
- keep one's eyes peeled
- To be on the alert, to be watchful
- keep one's hair on
- To stay calm; to be patient
And he flew at Jaap’s throat.
- keep one's head
- To remain calm, reasonable, level-headed, especially in a situation likely to cause distress
Officials are calling the woman a hero for keeping her head and finding the only way out amid the panic of the smoke and flames.
- keep one's head above the water
- Alternative form of keep one's head above water
- keep one's head above water
- To survive or endure, especially in a situation in which one is struggling to avoid being overwhelmed by adverse financial circumstances
Strong sales in Europe and Asia are helping Tiffany keep its head above water at a time when US consumers are holding onto their wallets.
- keep one's head on one's shoulders
- Alternative form of keep one's head
- keep one's head upon one's shoulders
- Alternative form of keep one's head
- keep one's lips sealed
- To keep quiet; to keep a secret; to not tell
You can certainly trust me to keep my lips sealed about the matter.
- keep one's mouth shut
- To keep a secret; to refrain from speaking indiscreetly or carelessly; broadly, to refrain from speaking altogether
Charles has failed to follow the example of his mother, the queen, who has heroically kept her mouth shut for more than 50 years.
- keep one's nose clean
- To stay out of trouble
- keep one's options open
- To not commit to a decision, to keep various options available
- keep one's own counsel
- To keep one's own business private; to be discreet, careful, or circumspect in what one says concerning one's own thoughts, deeds, or situation
The compressed lips suggest his principled reticence, his practice of keeping his own counsel.
- keep one's pecker up
- remain cheerful; keep smiling
All you need is a box of goodies to keep your pecker up, .
- keep one's shirt on
- To be more patient or to calm down
- keep oneself to oneself
- To be introverted; to stay away from others
- keep out
- To refrain from entering a place or condition
- keep out
- To restrain someone or something from entering a place or condition
- keep out of
- To restrain someone or something from entering a place or condition
He keeps me out of the house.
- keep out of
- To stay away from a place or condition
I am keeping out of trouble.
- keep pace
- To run at the same speed as a pacesetter
- keep pace
- To progress at the same rate as another; to keep up
As he had grown older, he found that he had grown away from his people. Their interests and his were far removed. They had not kept pace with him, nor could they understand aught of the many strange and wonderful dreams that passed through the active brain of their human king. So limited was their vocabulary that Tarzan could not even talk with them of the many new truths, and the great fields of thought that his reading had opened up before his longing eyes, or make known ambitions which stirred his soul.
- keep quiet
- To refrain from talking about something; to keep a secret
Remember it's a surprise party, so keep quiet about it.
- keep quiet
- remain silent
Granny is asleep, so keep quiet while you play.
- keep score
- To keep track of the score in a game
- keep shtum
- Don't tell anyone; especially, keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret
If I tell you, you have to promise to keep shtum about it.
- keep somebody in stitches
- To keep somebody laughing hard or amused
The show kept me in stitches the whole time.
- keep somebody posted
- To inform (someone) regularly of the latest developments
That's all the news for now, but I'll keep you posted about new developments.
- keep someone company
- To remain with or accompany someone, especially to make them feel more comfortable with a certain situation
I'm a bit nervous, could you keep me company while I wait for my blind date to arrive?.
- keep someone in the dark
- To deliberately not tell someone details about something
- keep someone in the loop
- To furnish someone with sufficient relevant information and include them in the decision-making process
- keep someone on ice
- to keep someone uninformed or uncontacted
- keep straight
- To avoid confusing or mixing up something; to keep something clear or organized
Their names all sounded the same to me at first, and I had trouble keeping straight who was who.
- keep tabs on
- to monitor; to keep track of; to watch
If you are careful to keep tabs on your finances, you should be able to stay within a budget.
- keep the home fires burning
- To maintain daily routine and provide the necessities of life in a home or community
- keep the wolf from the door
- To ward off poverty or hunger
They didn't earn much, but it was enough to keep the wolf from the door.
- keep the wolf from the door
- To delay sexual ejaculation
- keep track
- To monitor; to track or record; to understand or follow
Please sign in so that we can keep track of who is here.
- keep up
- To ensure that one remains well-informed about something
I always try to keep up with (or keep up on) current affairs.
- keep up
- To stay even or ahead
They ran so fast I could hardly keep up.
- keep up
- To continue with (work, etc)
If the borrower could no longer afford to keep up the payments, the longer he stayed in the home the more the interest bill mounted.''.
- keep up
- To maintain; to preserve; to prevent from deteriorating
The NRA is pumping groundwater into the River Itchen in Hampshire to keep up its flow and is trying to save three streams, the Tong, the Little Stour and the Dour from going dry this summer.
- keep up appearances
- To pretend to be all right or that everything is going well
With tact and management it would be possible to partially satisfy creditors, and keep up appearances for six months more.
- keep up with
- To manage to remain up to date with trends, fashions, etc
- keep up with
- To manage to remain beside or just behind someone or something that is moving away from one
- keep up with
- To manage to follow an argument, a discussion, etc
- keep up with the Joneses
- To act or make purchases for status or image rather than out of need, especially for the purpose of competing with friends or neighbors
Do you really need a fancy new car or are you just trying to keep up with the Joneses?.
- keep watch
- To guard; to watch over someone or something
In the afternoon the sun shone hot in their faces, for there were no trees to offer them shade; so that before night Dorothy and Toto and the Lion were tired, and lay down upon the grass and fell asleep, with the Woodman and the Scarecrow keeping watch.
- keep wicket
- to act as wicket-keeper
- keep with
- to remain with someone
- keep with
- to associate with someone or something
- keep your friends close, and your enemies closer
- One should be on their toes and alert of their surroundings if malicious people are around, to ensure such people can't wreak havoc in one's life
- keep-away
- A child's game in which players throw a ball or other similar object so as to prevent a selected player from catching it. When the selected player catches the thrown object, he or she trades places with whoever threw it in a manner that allowed it to be caught
- keep on one's toes
- be cautious, be on guard, be careful
- keep one's chin up
- don't worry much, do not lose hope; remain courageous in a troublesome situation
- keep track of
- keep a record (as of past events or actions)
- keep up
- If you keep up with someone or something that is moving near you, you move at the same speed. She shook her head and started to walk on. He kept up with her
- keep myself to myself
- See: keep oneself to oneself
- keep oneself to oneself
- Spend time alone, not talking to other people very much
- keep pace with someone
- Go as fast or go at the same rate as someone
- keep pace with something
- Go as fast or go at the same rate as something
- keep someone guessing
- Leave someone uncertain or in doubt as to one’s intentions or plans
- keep back
- Not go near to a person or place
- keep in mind
- Remember and think about someone or something
- keep note
- maintain in the forefront of one's awareness; "He kept note of the location of the soldiers"
- keep over
- Reserve, hold over
- keep away
- keep apart, hold at a distance, stay away from, do not come near
- keep away
- prevent from coming close; "I tried to keep the child away from the pool"
- keep away
- prevent from coming close; "I tried to keep the child away from the pool
- keep back
- keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"
- keep back
- stop; restrain; hide, conceal
- keep back
- secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"
- keep back
- If you keep some information back, you do not tell all that you know about something. Neither of them is telling the whole truth. Invariably, they keep something back
- keep back
- If you keep back part of something, you do not use or give away all of it, so that you still have some to use at a later time. Roughly chop the vegetables, and keep back a little to chop finely and serve as a garnish. = set aside, hold back
- keep back
- hold back; refuse to hand over or share; "The father is withholding the allowance until the son cleans his room"
- keep cool
- remain calm, keep one's temper, do not get angry
- keep down
- put down by force or intimidation; "The government quashes any attempt of an uprising"; "China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently"; "The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land"
- keep down
- If you keep the number, size, or amount of something down, you do not let it get bigger or go higher. The prime aim is to keep inflation down Administration costs were kept down to just £460
- keep down
- manage not to throw up
- keep down
- {f} keep something at low level; keep under control, keep at reduced level (E.g.: "The baby is sleeping so please keep your voice down"); prevent from increasing (as to keep down the price of milk); keep a person in an inferior position as to prevent this person from advancing or succeeding; stay low, stay in a low position or place where cannot be seen; hold food or drink without throwing it up
- keep down
- If you keep food or drink down, you manage to swallow it properly and not vomit, even though you feel sick. I tried to give her something to drink but she couldn't keep it down
- keep down
- If someone keeps a group of people down, they prevent them from getting power and status and being completely free. No matter what a woman tries to do to improve her situation, there is some barrier or attitude to keep her down. = hold back
- keep down
- place a limit on the number of
- keep fit
- a class in which you do exercises to keep yourself healthy aerobics
- keep going
- suffice for a period between two points; "This money will keep us going for another year"
- keep going
- continue on
- keep going
- allow to remain in a place or position; "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"
- keep going
- be a regular customer or client of; "We patronize this store"; "Our sponsor kept our art studio going for as long as he could"
- keep going
- continue uninterrupted; "The disease will run on unchecked"; "The party kept going until 4 A M "
- keep in
- cause to stay indoors
- keep in mind
- mind
- keep in mind
- remember, be aware of
- keep in mind
- bear in mind
- keep in touch
- stay in touch, be in touch with, maintain a connection with/to, maintain ties with/to, remain in contact with
- keep off
- refrain from certain foods or beverages; "I keep off drugs"; "During Ramadan, Muslims avoid tobacco during the day
- keep off
- keep a distance from -, stay away from -
- keep off
- refrain from certain foods or beverages; "I keep off drugs"; "During Ramadan, Muslims avoid tobacco during the day"
- keep off
- refrain from entering or walking onto; "keep off the grass"; "stay off the premises"
- keep on
- see keep 7
