English dictionary
keep
nounPronunciation
kiːp
Audio pronunciation
Parts of speech
Definitions
noun
- a cell in a jail or prison
noun
- the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
noun
- the financial means whereby one lives
verb
- prevent (food) from rotting
verb
- prevent the action or expression of
verb
- stick to correctly or closely
verb
- maintain by writing regular records
verb
- supply with necessities and support
verb
- hold and prevent from leaving
verb
- retain possession of
verb
- look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
verb
- maintain for use and service
verb
- have as a supply
verb
- store or keep customarily
verb
- retain rights to
verb
- allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
verb
- stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
verb
- behave as expected during holidays or rites
verb
- conform one's action or practice to
verb
- supply with room and board
verb
- to rear
verb
- cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity
verb
- continue a certain state, condition, or activity
verb
- maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
verb
- fail to spoil or rot
Example sentences
each child was expected to pay for their keep
he applied to the state for support
he could no longer earn his own livelihood
preserved meats
keep potatoes fresh
hold back your anger
keep your cool
she struggled to restrain her impatience at the delays
The pianist kept time with the metronome
keep count
I cannot keep track of all my employees
keep a diary
maintain a record
keep notes
She alone sustained her family
The money will sustain our good cause
There's little to earn and many to keep
The student was kept after school
Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
She kept her maiden name after she married
He keeps the shop when I am gone
I keep a car in the countryside
She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
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
Where do you keep your gardening tools?
keep my job for me while I give birth
keep my seat, please
keep open the possibility of a merger
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
We must prevent the cancer from spreading
His snoring kept me from falling asleep
Keep the child from eating the marbles
Keep the commandments
celebrate Christmas
Observe Yom Kippur
keep appointments
she never keeps her promises
We kept to the original conditions of the contract
He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
keep boarders
She keeps a few chickens in the yard
he keeps bees
hold in place
She always held herself as a lady