English Reference

Word

keep

US/ˈkip/

UK/kˈiːp/

Irregular verb

Forms

Infinitive

keep

Past

kept

Past participle

kept

Definitions

01to continue a state

A1 · Beginner

v. to stay in a particular state or condition, or to make someone else stay that way.

v. to cause to continue in a specified state, condition, or position.

“Please keep the door closed so the cat doesn't get out.”

“The manager struggled to keep the staff motivated during the long transition to the new software system.”

Usage

Often used as a copular verb followed by an adjective or a present participle.

Antonyms

02to continue doing

A2 · Elementary

v. to do something again and again or without stopping.

v. to continue a course of action or to repeat an action frequently.

“I keep forgetting where I put my car keys.”

“Despite the technical difficulties, the researchers kept searching for a pattern in the data sets.”

Pitfall

He keeps to ask the same question.

He keeps asking the same question.

When 'keep' means to continue an action, it must be followed by the -ing form, not the infinitive.

Synonyms

Antonyms

03to store or save

A1 · Beginner

v. to put something in a place to use it later, or to not give it back.

v. to retain possession of something or to store it in a regular place.

“You can keep the change from the coffee.”

“The archives keep original manuscripts in climate-controlled vaults to prevent the paper from deteriorating.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

04to follow a promise

B1 · Intermediate

v. to do what you said you would do.

v. to fulfill or adhere to a promise, law, or appointment.

“It is important to keep your promises if you want people to trust you.”

“The diplomat worked tirelessly to ensure both nations would keep the terms of the peace treaty.”

Antonyms

05to stay fresh

B1 · Intermediate

v. to stay in good condition without spoiling.

v. to remain in good condition or stay fresh for a period of time.

“This milk will keep for another week in the fridge.”

“Hard cheeses keep much longer than soft ones, making them ideal for long-distance transport without refrigeration.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

06castle tower

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. the strongest, central tower of a castle.

n. the innermost stronghold or central tower of a medieval castle.

“The soldiers retreated to the castle keep when the outer walls fell.”

“The stone keep provided a final line of defence, featuring thick walls and narrow windows designed for archers.”

Synonyms

07cost of living

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal

n. the money or food needed to live.

n. the cost of food, clothes, and other necessities for life.

“He worked in the garden to earn his keep while staying at the farm.”

“The young apprentice was expected to earn his keep by performing menial tasks around the workshop before learning the trade.”

Etymology

From Middle English kepen (“to keep, guard, look after, watch”), from Old English cēpan (“to seize, hold, observe”), from Proto-West Germanic kōpijan, from Proto-Germanic kōpijaną (“to look, heed, watch, observe”) (compare West Frisian kypje (“to look”)), from Proto-Indo-European ǵab-, ǵāb- (“to look after”) (compare Lithuanian žẽbti (“to eat reluctantly”), Russian забо́та (zabóta, “care, worry”)). The dialectal sense of the verb meaning “to put back” or “put away” may be analyzed as a semantic loan from a local language—compare Welsh cadw and Mandarin 收 (shōu).

From Middle English kepe, kep, from the verb (see above).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

VERB

keep(A1)

Related words

Idioms

01. cobbler, keep to your last

02. earn one's keep

03. gift that keeps on giving

04. keep a civil tongue in one's head

05. keep a close watch

06. keep a cool head

07. keep a lid on

08. keep a low profile

09. keep a weather eye open

10. keep an eye on

Show all 76

11. keep an eye open

12. keep an eye out

13. keep an eye peeled

14. keep company

15. keep good time

16. keep house

17. keep it between the ditches

18. keep it in the family

19. keep it moving

20. keep it one hundred

21. keep it real

22. keep it together

23. keep it up

24. keep off the streets

25. keep on

26. keep on about

27. keep on truckin'

28. keep one's cards close to one's chest

29. keep one's chin up

30. keep one's cool

31. keep one's ears open

32. keep one's eye on the ball

33. keep one's eyes peeled

34. keep one's fingers crossed

35. keep one's hair on

36. keep one's head

37. keep one's head above water

38. keep one's head down

39. keep one's head on a swivel

40. keep one's knickers on

41. keep one's lips sealed

42. keep one's mouth shut

43. keep one's nose clean

44. keep one's options open

45. keep one's pants on

46. keep one's pecker up

47. keep one's stick on the ice

48. keep one's temper

49. keep one's tits on

50. keep one's voice down

51. keep pace

52. keep quiet

53. keep shtum

54. keep someone amused

55. keep someone busy

56. keep someone company

57. keep someone in the loop

58. keep someone on ice

59. keep someone on their toes

60. keep someone posted

61. keep someone sweet

62. keep straight

63. keep tabs on

64. keep the ball rolling

65. keep the bones green

66. keep the home fires burning

67. keep the peace

68. keep the pot boiling

69. keep the show on the road

70. keep the wolf from the door

71. keep up

72. keep up appearances

73. keep up with the Joneses

74. keep up with the times

75. keep watch

76. take a licking and keep on ticking

Domain

Engineering

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 3
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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