keep meaning and definition

KEEP noun

Definition of keep (noun)

1. the financial means whereby one lives
   • "each child was expected to pay for their keep"; "he applied to the state for support"; "he could no longer earn his own livelihood"
   • synonyms: bread and butter, livelihood, living, support, sustenance
2. the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
   • synonyms: donjon, dungeon
3. a cell in a jail or prison
   • synonyms: hold

KEEP verb

Definition of keep (verb)

1. keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g.
   • "keep clean"; "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady"; "The students keep me on my toes"
   • synonyms: hold, maintain
2. continue a certain state, condition, or activity
   • "Keep on working!"; "We continued to work into the night"; "Keep smiling"; "We went on working until well past midnight"
   • synonyms: continue, go along, go on, proceed
   • antonym: discontinue
3. retain possession of
   • "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"; "She kept her maiden name after she married"
   • synonyms: hold on
   • antonym: lose
4. stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
   • "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles"
   • synonyms: prevent
   • antonym: allow
5. conform one's action or practice to
   • "keep appointments"; "she never keeps her promises"; "We kept to the original conditions of the contract"
   • synonyms: observe
   • antonym: breach
6. stick to correctly or closely
   • "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees"
   • synonyms: maintain, observe
7. look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
   • "He keeps the shop when I am gone"
8. maintain by writing regular records
   • "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"
   • synonyms: maintain
9. supply with room and board
   • "He is keeping three women in the guest cottage"; "keep boarders"
10. allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
    • "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"; "She retained her composure"; "this garment retains its shape even after many washings"
    • synonyms: continue, keep on, retain
11. supply with necessities and support
    • "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep"
    • synonyms: maintain, sustain
12. fail to spoil or rot
    • "These potatoes keep for a long time"
    • synonyms: stay fresh
13. behave as expected during of holidays or rites
    • "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur"
    • synonyms: celebrate, observe
14. keep under control; keep in check
    • "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"
    • synonyms: hold back, keep back, restrain
15. maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
    • "May God keep you"
    • synonyms: preserve
16. raise
    • "She keeps a few chickens in the yard"; "he keeps bees"
17. retain rights to
    • "keep my job for me while I give birth"; "keep my seat, please"; "keep open the possibility of a merger"
    • synonyms: hold open, keep open, save
18. store or keep customarily
    • "Where do you keep your gardening tools?"
19. have as a supply
    • "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"
20. maintain for use and service
    • "I keep a car in the countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips"
    • synonyms: maintain
21. hold and prevent from leaving
    • "The student was kept after school"
22. prevent (food) from rotting
    • "preserved meats"; "keep potatoes fresh"
    • synonyms: preserve