Keep

English Meaning

To care; to desire.

1. To retain possession of: kept the change; must keep your composure.
2. To have as a supply: keep an ax in the shed.
3. To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support: "There's little to earn and many to keep” ( Charles Kingsley).
4. To support (a mistress or lover) financially.
5. To put customarily; store: Where do you keep your saw?
6. To supply with room and board for a charge: keep boarders.
7. To raise: keep chickens.
8. To maintain for use or service: an urbanite who didn't keep a car.
9. To manage, tend, or have charge of: Keep the shop while I'm away.
10. To preserve (food).
11. To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action: tried to keep the patient calm.
12. To maintain records in: keep a yearly diary.
13. To enter (data) in a book: keep financial records.
14. To detain: was kept after school.
15. To restrain: kept the child away from the stove; kept the crowd back with barriers.
16. To prevent or deter: tried to keep the ice from melting.
17. To refrain from divulging: keep a secret.
18. To save; reserve: keep extra money for emergencies.
19. To adhere or conform to; follow: keep late hours.
20. To be faithful to; fulfill: keep one's word.
21. To celebrate; observe.
22. To remain in a state or condition; stay: keep in line; keep quiet; kept well.
23. To continue to do: keep on talking; keep guessing.
24. To remain fresh or unspoiled: The dessert won't keep.
25. To restrain oneself; hold oneself back: I couldn't keep from eavesdropping.
26. Care; charge: The child is in my keep for the day.
27. The means by which one is supported: earn one's keep.
28. The stronghold of a castle.
29. A jail.
30. keep at To persevere in work or an action.
31. keep down To prevent from growing, accomplishing, or succeeding: keep the revolutionaries down.
32. keep down To hold under control or at a reduced level: Keep your voice down.
33. keep down To refrain from vomiting: Although seasick, I managed to keep my food down.
34. keep off To stay away from.
35. keep to To adhere to: keep to the original purpose.
36. keep up To maintain in good condition: kept up the property.
37. keep up To persevere in; carry on: We asked her to stop talking, but she kept it up.
38. keep up To preserve or sustain: kept up the appearance of friendship.
39. keep up To continue at the same level or pace: The snow kept up all day.
40. keep up To continue to pay off (a financial obligation).
41. keep up To match one's competitors, colleagues, or neighbors in success or lifestyle: couldn't keep up with his friends who went into business.
42. keep up To remain adequately informed: loved to keep up on the gossip.
43. for keeps For an indefinitely long period: gave the ring to me for keeps.
44. for keeps Seriously and permanently: We're separating for keeps.
45. keep an eye on To watch over attentively; mind.
46. keep an eye on To watch closely or carefully: keep your eye on the ball.
47. keep an eye out To be watchful.
48. keep a stiff upper lip To be courageous or stoic in the face of adversity.
49. keep company To carry on a courtship: a couple who kept company but never married.
50. keep company To socialize or associate: keeps company with some tough thugs.
51. keep (one's) chin up To be stalwart, courageous, or optimistic in the face of difficulty.
52. open To be on the lookout.
53. keep (one's) nose clean Informal To stay out of trouble.
54. keep pace To stay even with others, as in a contest.
55. keep (someone) company To accompany or remain with.
56. keep the wolf from the door To avoid the privation and suffering resulting from a lack of money: Both spouses had to work in order to keep the wolf from the door.
57. keep time To indicate the correct time.
58. keep time Music To maintain the tempo or rhythm.
59. keep to (oneself) To shun the company of others: She kept to herself all morning.
60. keep to (oneself) To refrain from divulging: He kept the news to himself.