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one's keep

noun

: the amount of money a person needs to pay for food, clothing, a place to live, etc.
used in the phrase earn one's keep
She's been living off her parents long enough. It's time for her to get a job and start earning her keep.

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Cite this Entry

“One's keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one%27s%20keep. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

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