If you keep to a rule, plan, or agreement, you do exactly what you are expected or supposed to do.
You've got to keep to the speed limit. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
He had been unable to keep to his schedule. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
2. phrasal verb
If you keep to something such as a path or river, you do not move away from it as you go somewhere.
Please keep to the paths. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
3. phrasal verb
If you keep to a particular subject, you talk only about that subject, and do not talk about anything else.
Let's keep to the subject, or you'll get me too confused. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
4. phrasal verb
If you keep something to a particular number or quantity, you limit it to that number or quantity.
Keep costs to a minimum. [VERB noun PARTICLE noun]
See full dictionary entry for keep
keep to in British English
verb(preposition)
1.
to adhere to or stand by or cause to adhere to or stand by
to keep to a promise
2.
to confine or be confined to
3. keep to oneself
4. keep oneself to oneself
keep to in American English
1.
to persevere in
2.
to avoid swerving from; adhere to
3.
to remain in
See full dictionary entry for keep
Examples of 'keep to' in a sentence
keep to
What she is strict about is keeping to proper mealtimes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Will it be possible to keep to the limit in the present negotiations?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He always kept to the subject.
Christianity Today (2000)
The drivers are also more respectful and (within limitations) keep to the speed limits.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This means commanders will have to send home 200 support troops to keep to the limit of 9,000.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If people don't want to get fined for speeding, they should get to grips with keeping to the speed limit.
The Sun (2008)
Motorists can earn discounts of up to 50 per cent on their premiums by keeping to speed limits, braking gently and slowing down for corners.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
All related terms of 'keep to'
to keep pace
If something keeps pace with something else that is changing, it changes quickly in response to it.
to keep time
If you keep time when playing or singing music , you follow or play the beat , without going too fast or too slowly.
to keep going
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 .
to keep house
If you keep house , you do the cleaning and cooking for your household , and do not go out to work.
to keep track
If you keep track of a situation or a person, you make sure that you have the newest and most accurate information about them all the time.
keep to oneself
to avoid the society of others
to keep a secret
If you say that someone can keep a secret , you mean that they can be trusted not to tell other people a secret that you have told them.
to keep at it
If you keep at it , you continue doing something that you have started , even if you are tired and would prefer to stop .
to keep it up
If you keep it up , you continue working or trying as hard as you have been in the past .
to keep to yourself
If you keep to yourself , you stay on your own most of the time and do not mix socially with other people.
to keep the books
to keep written records of the finances of a business or other enterprise
to keep the peace
If someone in authority , such as the army or the police , keeps the peace , they make sure that people behave and do not fight or quarrel with each other.
to keep sth to yourself
If you keep something to yourself , you do not tell anyone else about it.
to keep your end up
If you have to keep your end up , or to keep up your end of something, you have to do something as well as other people, or as well as you are expected to do it.
keep oneself to oneself
to avoid the society of others
to keep a straight face
If you manage to keep a straight face , you manage to look serious , although you want to laugh .
to keep someone company
If you keep someone company , you spend time with them and stop them feeling lonely or bored .
to keep your hand in
If you do something to keep your hand in , you practise a skill or hobby occasionally in order to remain fairly good at it.
to keep your nose clean
If you keep your nose clean , you behave well and stay out of trouble .
to keep (yourself) to yourself
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.
to keep a tight rein on
If you keep a tight rein on someone, you control them firmly.
to keep a watchful eye on
If you keep a watchful eye on someone or something, you watch carefully to make sure there are no problems .
to keep your eyes peeled
If you tell someone to keep their eyes peeled for something, you are telling them to watch very carefully for it.
keep one's ear to the ground
to be or try to be well informed about current trends and opinions
keep your ear to the ground
to make sure that you find out about all the things that people are doing or talking about
to keep up with the Joneses
if you say that someone is keeping up with the Joneses, you mean that they are doing something in order to show that they have as much money as other people, rather than because they really want to do it
to keep your head above water
If you keep your head above water , you just avoid getting into difficulties ; used especially to talk about business.
to bear in mind to keep sth in mind
If you tell someone to bear something in mind or to keep something in mind , you are reminding or warning them about something important which they should remember .
to keep your head to lose your head
If you keep your head , you remain calm in a difficult situation . If you lose your head , you panic or do not remain calm in a difficult situation.
keep one's nose to the grindstone
to work hard and perseveringly
keep your cool to lose your cool
If you keep your cool in a difficult situation, you manage to remain calm . If you lose your cool , you get angry or upset .
keep your eyes glued to something
If you say that someone keeps their eyes glued to something, you mean that they are watching it with all their attention .
keep your nose to the grindstone
to concentrate on working hard at your job , and not concern yourself with other things
do something to keep your hand in
to do something in order to use the skills which you have developed in the past , so that you do not lose them
keep your balance to lose your balance
If you keep your balance , for example when standing in a moving vehicle, you remain steady and do not fall over. If you lose your balance , you become unsteady and fall over.
keep your cards close to your chest
to not tell anyone about your plans or thoughts
to hold your peace keep one's peace
If you hold or keep your peace , you do not speak, even though there is something you want or ought to say .
to keep your balance to lose your balance
If you keep your balance , for example , when standing in a moving vehicle, you remain steady and do not fall over. If you lose your balance , you become unsteady and fall over.
a straight face to keep a straight face
If you manage to keep a straight face , you manage to look serious , although you want to laugh .
to keep something at bay to keep someone at bay to hold someone at bay to hold something at bay
If you keep something or someone at bay , or hold them at bay , you prevent them from reaching , attacking , or affecting you.
to cross your fingers keep one's fingers crossed
If you cross your fingers , you put one finger on top of another and hope for good luck . If you say that someone is keeping their fingers crossed , you mean they are hoping for good luck.
to hold something in check keep sth in check
If something or someone is held in check or is kept in check , they are controlled and prevented from becoming too great or powerful .
to keep your eyes open keep an eye out for something
If you keep your eyes open or keep an eye out for someone or something, you watch for them carefully.
to keep your options open leave one's options open
If you keep your options open or leave your options open , you delay making a decision about something.
have an ear to the ground
to give careful attention to the trends of public opinion
keep an ear to the ground to have one's ear to the ground
If you keep or have your ear to the ground , you make sure that you find out about the things that people are doing or saying .
keep something/someone at bay to hold something at bay
If you keep something or someone at bay , or hold them at bay , you prevent them from reaching , attacking , or affecting you.
to keep body and soul together hold body and soul together
If you keep body and soul together , you have enough money to provide what you need to live .
have to have your wits about you
to need to be alert and ready to take action in a difficult or new situation
Chinese translation of 'keep to'
keep to
vt fus
(= observe)[agreement]遵守 (zūnshǒu)
[limit]局(侷)限于(於) (júxiànyú)
⇒ You've got to keep to the speed limit.你绝对不能超速。 (Nǐ juéduì bùnéng chāosù.)