keep

Nouns

(n) 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
bread and butter, livelihood, sustenance, living, support,
(n) the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress donjon, dungeon,
(n) a cell in a jail or prison hold,

Verbs

(v) 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
hold, maintain,
(v) 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
continue, go on, go along, proceed,
(v) retain possession of
- Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
- She kept her maiden name after she married
hold on,
(v) 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
prevent,
(v) conform one's action or practice to
- keep appointments
- she never keeps her promises
- We kept to the original conditions of the contract
observe,
(v) stick to correctly or closely
- The pianist kept time with the metronome
- keep count
- I cannot keep track of all my employees
observe, maintain,
(v) look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
- He keeps the shop when I am gone
(v) maintain by writing regular records
- keep a diary
- maintain a record
- keep notes
maintain,
(v) supply with room and board
- He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
- keep boarders
(v) 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
keep on, retain, continue,
(v) 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
maintain, sustain,
(v) fail to spoil or rot
- These potatoes keep for a long time
stay fresh,
(v) behave as expected during of holidays or rites
- Keep the commandments
- celebrate Christmas
- Observe Yom Kippur
celebrate, observe,
(v) keep under control; keep in check
- suppress a smile
- Keep your temper
- keep your cool
keep back, restrain, hold back,
(v) maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
- May God keep you
preserve,
(v) raise
- She keeps a few chickens in the yard
- he keeps bees
(v) retain rights to
- keep my job for me while I give birth
- keep my seat, please
- keep open the possibility of a merger
hold open, keep open, save,
(v) store or keep customarily
- Where do you keep your gardening tools?
(v) 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
(v) maintain for use and service
- I keep a car in the countryside
- She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
maintain,
(v) hold and prevent from leaving
- The student was kept after school
(v) prevent (food) from rotting
- preserved meats
- keep potatoes fresh
preserve,

Synonyms

bread and butter livelihood sustenance living support hold maintain donjon dungeon continue go on go along proceed hold on prevent observe keep on retain sustain stay fresh celebrate keep back restrain hold back preserve hold open keep open save

Antonyms

discontinue lose allow let permit breach infract transgress go against offend violate break

Words of close approximity

keel keen

kea Keb keg ken key

Kean keel keen kelp Kelt keno Kent kepi kept Kera kerb kern