Word
keep
US/ˈkip/
UK/kˈiːp/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
keep
Past
kept
Past participle
kept
In Japanese
to keep (e.g. the lead); to maintain (a standard, situation, etc.)
この店は、ボトルをキープできるんですか。
Can I reserve a bottle and have you keep it here for me? Tatoeba
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
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.
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.
Español:seguir
“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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
Synonyms
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
Related words
Idioms
01. cobbler, keep to your last
02. earn one's keep
04. keep a civil tongue in one's head
06. keep a cool head
07. keep a lid on
10. keep an eye on
Show all 76
11. keep an eye open
12. keep an eye out
14. keep company
15. keep good time
16. keep house
17. keep it between the ditches
19. keep it moving
21. keep it real
22. keep it together
23. keep it up
25. keep on
26. keep on about
27. keep on truckin'
28. keep one's cards close to one's chest
30. keep one's cool
32. keep one's eye on the ball
34. keep one's fingers crossed
36. keep one's head
37. keep one's head above water
39. keep one's head on a swivel
47. keep one's stick on the ice
51. keep pace
52. keep quiet
53. keep shtum
59. keep someone on their toes
62. keep straight
63. keep tabs on
66. keep the home fires burning
67. keep the peace
70. keep the wolf from the door
71. keep up
75. keep watch
Domain
- 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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QR code
englishreference.com/q/keep
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0