keep
verb /kiːp/
/kiːp/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they keep | /kiːp/ /kiːp/ |
| he / she / it keeps | /kiːps/ /kiːps/ |
| past simple kept | /kept/ /kept/ |
| past participle kept | /kept/ /kept/ |
| -ing form keeping | /ˈkiːpɪŋ/ /ˈkiːpɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] keep something to continue to have something and not give it back or throw it away
- He kept all her letters.
- She handed the waiter a hundred dollar bill and told him to keep the change.
- Always keep a backup of the file.
- [transitive] keep something + adv./prep. to put or store something in a particular place
- Keep your passport in a safe place.
Extra Examples- Where do you keep the sugar?
- The documents are all kept under lock and key.
- [transitive] (especially British English) to save something for somebody
- keep something for somebody Please keep a seat for me.
- The man in the shop said he'd keep it for me until Friday.
- keep somebody something Please keep me a seat.
- [intransitive, transitive] to stay in a particular condition or position; to make somebody/something do this
- keep + adj. We huddled together to keep warm.
- I could not keep silent any longer.
- keep + adv./prep. The notice said ‘Keep off (= Do not walk on) the grass’.
- Keep left along the wall.
- keep somebody/something + adj. The doctors worked miracles to keep him alive.
- Winning the contract means they can now keep the factory open.
- She kept the children amused for hours.
- Keep your PIN safe.
- keep somebody/something + adv./prep. He kept his coat on.
- Don't keep us in suspense—what happened next?
- keep something She had trouble keeping her balance.
- keep somebody/something doing something I'm very sorry to keep you waiting.
Extra Examples- I'm amazed that she keeps so cheerful.
- Keep close to me.
- She needed to keep busy.
- Sit down and keep calm!
- Try to keep active in the cold weather.
- We managed to keep dry by standing in a doorway.
- [intransitive] to continue doing something; to do something repeatedly
- keep doing something Keep smiling!
- Why does everyone keep saying that?
- Things just keep getting worse.
- keep on doing something Don't keep on interrupting me!
- [transitive] keep a secret | keep something secret (from somebody) to know something and not tell it to anyone
- Can you keep a secret?
- She kept her past secret from us all.
- [transitive] keep something to do what you have promised to do; to go where you have agreed to go
- She kept her promise to visit them.
- Mary kept her word and Henry was never informed.
- He failed to keep his appointment at the clinic.
- [transitive] to write down something as a record
- She kept a diary for over twenty years.
- We keep a record of all complaints that we receive.
- Keep a note of where each item can be found.
- I kept a weekly account of my workload and activities.
Extra Examples- Separate accounts must be kept for each different business activity.
- Village clerks were unable to keep a proper record of deaths because they were so frequent.
- [transitive] keep something to own and care for animals
- to keep bees/goats/hens
- My grandmother kept chickens in her back yard.
- Residents are not allowed to keep pets.
- [transitive] keep something (especially British English) to own and manage a shop or restaurant
- Her father kept a grocer's shop.
- [transitive] keep somebody/yourself to provide what is necessary for somebody to live; to support somebody by paying for food, etc.
- He scarcely earns enough to keep himself and his family.
Extra Examples- At the time many working men did not earn enough to keep a wife and children.
- He kept himself by giving private lessons.
- [transitive] keep somebody to delay somebody synonym hold up
- You're an hour late—what kept you?
- I won't keep you long. I've just got a couple of quick questions.
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. (informal) used to ask or talk about somebody’s health
- How is your mother keeping?
- We're all keeping well.
- [intransitive] to remain in good condition
- Finish off the pie—it won't keep.
- Milk and cream should keep quite well in a fridge.
- (informal, figurative) ‘I'd love to hear about it, but I'm late already.’ ‘That's OK—it'll keep (= I can tell you about it later).’
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- well
- [transitive] (formal) to protect somebody from something
- keep somebody May the Lord bless you and keep you (= used in prayers in the Christian Church).
- keep somebody from something His only thought was to keep the boy from harm.
- [transitive] keep goal/wicket (in football (soccer), hockey, cricket, etc.) to guard or protect the goal or wicket see also goalkeeper, wicketkeeper
not give back
put/store
save for somebody
stay
continue
secret
promise/appointment
diary/record
animals
shop/restaurant
support somebody
delay
about health
of food
protect
in sport
Word Originlate Old English cēpan ‘seize, take in’, also ‘care for, attend to’, of unknown origin.
Idioms Most idioms containing keep are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example keep house is at house.
keep going
- to make an effort to live normally when you are in a difficult situation or when you have experienced great pain and difficulty
- You just have to keep yourself busy and keep going.
- (informal) used to encourage somebody to continue doing something
- Keep going, Sarah, you're nearly there.
keep somebody going
- (informal) to be enough for somebody until they get what they are waiting for
- Have an apple to keep you going till dinner time.