keep
keep
(kiːp )Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense keeps , present participle keeping , past tense, past participle kept
1. link verb
If someone keeps or is kept in a particular state, they remain in it.
The noise kept him awake. [V n adj/prep]
Reggie was being kept busy behind the bar. [V n adj/prep]
To keep warm they burnt wood in a rusty oil barrel. [V adj/prep]
For several years I kept in touch with her. [V adj/prep]
2. verb
If you keep or you are kept in a particular position or place, you remain in it.
Keep away from the doors while the train is moving. [VERB adverb/preposition]
He kept his head down, hiding his features. [VERB noun with adverb]
It was against all orders to smoke, but a cigarette kept away mosquitoes. [VERB noun with adverb]
Doctors will keep her in hospital for at least another week. [VERB noun preposition]
3. verb
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. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He's going to be a fantastic player if he keeps away from booze and women. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The best way to keep babies off sugar is to go back to the natural diet and eat lots of fresh fruit. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
4. verb
If someone or something keeps you from a particular action, they prevent you from doing it.
Embarrassment has kept me from doing all sorts of things. [VERB noun + from]
He kept her from being lonely. [V n from -ing]
What can you do to keep it from happening again? [V n from -ing]
prevent, hold back, deter, inhibit, block, stall, restrain, hamstring, hamper, withhold, hinder, retard, impede, shackle, keep back5. verb
6. verb
She knew that Gabriel was keeping something from her. [VERB noun + from]
7. verb
If you keep doing something, you do it repeatedly or continue to do it.
I keep forgetting it's December. [VERB verb-ing]
I turned back after a while, but he kept walking. [VERB verb-ing]
continue, go on, carry on, persist in, persevere in, remainKeep on means the same as keep.
Did he give up or keep on trying? [VERB PARTICLE verb-ing]
My wife keeps on saying that I work too hard. [V P -ing]
8. verb
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. [VERB noun]
One of them would keep a look-out on the road behind to warn us of approaching vehicles. [VERB noun]
His parents kept a vigil by his bedside as he was given brain and body scans. [VERB noun]
9. verb
If you keep something, you continue to have it in your possession and do not throw it away, give it away, or sell it.
'I like this dress,' she said. 'Keep it. You can have it,' said Daphne. [VERB noun]
Lathan had to choose between marrying her and keeping his job. [VERB noun]
10. verb
If you keep something in a particular place, you always have it or store it in that place so that you can use it whenever you need it.
She kept her money under the mattress. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
She remembered where she kept the gun. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
To make it easier to contact us, keep this card handy. [VERB noun adjective]
store, put, place, house, hold, deposit, pile, stack, heap, amass, stow11. verb
12. verb
13. verb
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. [VERB noun]
I just cannot afford to keep myself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
The pay was enough to keep him in whisky for a day or two. [VERB noun + in]
support, maintain, sustain, provide for, mind, fund, board, finance, feed, look after, foster, shelter, care for, take care of, nurture, safeguard, cherish, nourish, subsidize14. singular noun
Ray will earn his keep on local farms while studying.
I need to give my parents money for my keep.
board, food, maintenance, upkeep, means, living, support, nurture, livelihood, subsistence, kai [New Zealand, informal], nourishment, sustenance15. verb
16. verb
17. verb
18. verb
Whatever is left over may be put into the refrigerator, where it will keep for 2-3 weeks. [VERB]
stay fresh, be suitable, be safe to eat, remain flavoursome19. verb [only cont]
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33. to keep house
34. to keep pace
36. to keep a secret
37. to keep time
38. to keep track
