1
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony
keep the Sabbath by not working
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to retain
to continue to have in one's possession or power
the money is yours to keep keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of
make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in to maintain
to pay the living expenses of
agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in to control
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
try to keep your composure no matter what happens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
may God bless and keep you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in preserving
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition
the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of keep
Gus Bartholomew, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
In the opening minutes of the second period Saturday, Evan Rodrigues heaved the puck toward the net, just trying to just keep it from exiting the zone and keep the Florida Panthers’ on the offensive against the Dallas Stars.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Although the keep votes are in the majority, the decision will ultimately hinge on whether administrators believe there’s enough independent, significant coverage to meet the bar.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep
Verb
That one person is supposed to deliver a company’s entire Net Zero transition, wrangle data from hundreds of suppliers, meet evolving regulations, educate colleagues, and somehow keep everyone motivated.
—Gus Bartholomew, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
In the opening minutes of the second period Saturday, Evan Rodrigues heaved the puck toward the net, just trying to just keep it from exiting the zone and keep the Florida Panthers’ on the offensive against the Dallas Stars.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
Regular cleaning will ensure your vacuum keeps doing its job and prevent your home from feeling dustier than ever.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Although the keep votes are in the majority, the decision will ultimately hinge on whether administrators believe there’s enough independent, significant coverage to meet the bar.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
-
Town & Country takes its characters and their struggles at face value and, despite some gentle needling, celebrates their genuine camaraderie and familial commitment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Some of this year’s events also celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps and Navy.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This preform is then heated and stretched, much like molten plastic, to produce thin fibers that retain the same intricate internal structure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Starbucks will retain a 40% interest in the joint venture and will continue to own and license the brand and intellectual property to the new entity, the companies said.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
That means giving back, informally, to fulfill teachers’ wish lists and with the Eagles Autism Foundation.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The TrumpRx website is expected to launch sometime in 2026, and would take consumers to pharmaceutical companies' direct-to-consumer websites to fulfill orders.—
NPR,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
We, in collaboration with our partners, store and/or access information on a user's device, including but not limited to IP addresses, unique identifiers, and browsing data stored in cookies, in order to process personal data.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
-
All the information that Gemini is drawing upon will be culled from the roughly 250 million places stored in Google Maps’ database of reviews accumulated during the past 20 years.—
Michael Liedtke,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Many chains are finding that fewer stores are better, and have been shutting down locations to maintain quality and brand congruence.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The scale of the Republican Party's triumph in 2024—taking the White House, flipping the Senate and maintaining control of the House—has sparked soul-searching within the Democratic Party over what went wrong, how to rebuild, and party leadership and direction.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In part, the McKinley administration standardized various press protocols and routines involved in managing the press corps—holding somewhat regular briefings, for example, and carefully timing White House announcements.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Because of delays, Peter, having committed to spending a year in Israel, turned to me to manage all aspects of this sprawling project.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The buttons control the cooking modes, temperature setting (up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit), and cook time, which can also be conveniently adjusted using the dial.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
-
More than 60% of 136 facilities connected to missile production or the Chinese military’s rocket force, which controls China’s nuclear arsenal, showed signs of expansion in satellite images.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This warranty gives homeowners confidence that their investment is protected and that the company is committed to long-term results.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Prices start at $57 At minimum, an area rug’s job is to protect your floors from scratches, spills, and scuffs, but this particular style holds so much more importance in terms of adding decor, texture, and color to a space — just ask Joanna Gaines.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share