kept
ˈkept 
; keeping
; keeping
1
a
: to retain in one's possession or power
kept the money we found
b
: to refrain from granting, giving, or allowing
kept the news back
c
: to have in control
keep your temper
2
: to take notice of by appropriate conduct : fulfill: such as
a
: to be faithful to
keep a promise
b
: to act fittingly in relation to
keep the Sabbath
c
: to conform to in habits or conduct
keep late hours
d
: to stay in accord with (a beat)
keep time
3
a
: to watch over and defend
keep us from harm
c
: to continue to maintain
keep watch
d(1)
: to cause to remain in a given place, situation, or condition
keep him waiting
(2)
: to preserve (food) in an unspoiled condition
e(1)
: to have or maintain in an established position or relationship
keep a mistress
—often used with onkept the cook on
(2)
: to lodge or feed for pay
keep boarders
f(1)
: to maintain a record in
keep a diary
(2)
: to enter in a book
keep records
g
: to have customarily in stock for sale
4
5
: to confine oneself to
keep my room
6
a
: to stay or continue in
keep the path
keep your seat
b
: to stay or remain on or in usually against opposition : hold
kept her ground
1
a
: to maintain a course, direction, or progress
keep to the right
b
: to continue usually without interruption
keep talking
keep quiet
keep on smiling
c
: to persist in a practice
kept bothering them
kept on smoking in spite of warnings
2
a
: to stay even
—usually used with up
keep up with the Joneses
b
: to remain in good condition
meat will keep in the freezer
c
: to remain secret
the secret would keep
d
: to call for no immediate action
the matter will keep until morning
4
: to be in session
school will keep through the winter—
W. M. Thayer
W. M. Thayer5
of a quarterback
: to retain possession of a football especially after faking a handoff
1
: the means or provisions by which one is kept
earned his keep
2
3
4
a
Examples of keep in a Sentence
Verb
She's going to keep the money she found.
I can't decide whether to sell my old car or keep it for another year.
While the company laid off some employees, others had hopes of keeping their jobs.
“The fare is $4.” “Here's $5. Keep the change.”
I asked them to keep quiet.
The program teaches kids how to keep safe near water.
I tried to keep the children quiet during the ceremony.
The local newspaper keeps people informed about what's happening in town.
The article offers tips on how to keep kids safe near water.
The movie will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Noun
the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters
Recent Examples on the Web
Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
To keep all your belongings safe in one easy-to-reach space, consider investing in a wallet that can do it all, like this travel-size one from Zero Grid.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025
In Secretary Doug Burgum’s view, Yosemite is a good park—one that attracts visitors and earns its keep.
—Gloria Liu, Outside Online, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep
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Verb
Rogers noted that the book argues that a central cause of the war was Anglo settlers’ determination to keep slaves in bondage after Mexico largely abolished it.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
To keep all your belongings safe in one easy-to-reach space, consider investing in a wallet that can do it all, like this travel-size one from Zero Grid.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
This silk scarf earns its keep a dozen times over.
—Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2025
In Secretary Doug Burgum’s view, Yosemite is a good park—one that attracts visitors and earns its keep.
—Gloria Liu, Outside Online, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep
Cite this Entry
“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
keep
1 of 2 verb
kept
ˈkept
; keeping
; keeping
1
a
: to be faithful to : fulfill
keep a promise
b
: to act properly in relation to
keep the Sabbath
3
: to continue doing something : maintain
keep silence
keep on working
keep that up and you'll get into trouble
4
: to have in one's service or at one's disposal
keep a car
5
: to preserve a record in
keep a diary
6
: to have on hand regularly for sale
keep neckties
7
: to continue to have in one's possession or power
kept the marbles I won
8
a
: to prevent from leaving : detain
keep a person in jail
was kept after school
b
: to place for storage
keeps the catsup in the refrigerator
keep my socks in a drawer
9
: to hold back
keep a secret
10
a
: to remain or cause to remain in a place, situation, or condition
keep off the grass
keep him waiting
b
: to continue in an unspoiled condition
food that keeps well
11
: refrain entry 1
keep from talking
12
: to take charge of (as a business) : manage
kept an inn
keep
2 of 2 noun1
: the strongest part of a castle in the Middle Ages
2
: the necessities of life
earn one's keep
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