📒 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.
📒 to put or store something in a particular place
- Keep your passport in a safe place.
- Where do you keep the sugar?
- The documents are all kept under lock and key.
📒 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.
📒 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’.
📒 to continue doing something; to do something repeatedly
- keep doing something Keep smiling!
- Why does everyone keep saying that?
- Things just keep getting worse.
📒 to know something and not tell it to anyone
- Can you keep a secret?
- She kept her past secret from us all.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 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.
📒 to own and manage a shop or restaurant
- Her father kept a grocer's shop.
📒 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.
- At the time many working men did not earn enough to keep a wife and children.
- He kept himself by giving private lessons.
📒 to delay somebody
- You're an hour late—what kept you?
- I won't keep you long. I've just got a couple of quick questions.
📒 used to ask or talk about somebody’s health
- How is your mother keeping?
- We're all keeping well.
📒 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).’
📒 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.
📒 to guard or protect the goal or wicket
📒 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.
📒 used to encourage somebody to continue doing something
- Keep going, Sarah, you're nearly there.
📒 to be enough for somebody until they get what they are waiting for
- Have an apple to keep you going till dinner time.