1
2
: any of various devices for keeping something in position
3
a
: one suitable for or worth keeping: such as
(1)
: a fruit or vegetable that keeps well
(2)
: a fish large enough to be legally caught and kept
(3)
: one having genuine or lasting merit
their new album is a keeper
b
: a domestic animal considered with respect to how easy it is to care for
an easy keeper
4
5
: an offensive football play in which the quarterback runs with the ball
Examples of keeper in a Sentence
Hold on to that boyfriend of yours—he's a keeper!
how should I know where she is? I'm not her keeper
Recent Examples on the Web
For a fluffy, hotel-like snooze, their down collection is a perennial keeper.
—
Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 30 Nov. 2025
On third-and-goal, Purdy scored on a 2-yard, zone-read keeper once Garrett bit on a fake handoff to Christian McCaffrey.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
With dos Santos injured in the first round against Portland, that meant third-string keeper Duran Ferree had to make his MLS debut at age 19 and the hosts had to play the rest of the game down a man.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
Two plays later, Barnes scored on a QB keeper to provide what was ultimately a 14-point swing.
—Idaho Statesman, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keeper
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Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 30 Nov. 2025
On third-and-goal, Purdy scored on a 2-yard, zone-read keeper once Garrett bit on a fake handoff to Christian McCaffrey.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 30 Nov. 2025
With dos Santos injured in the first round against Portland, that meant third-string keeper Duran Ferree had to make his MLS debut at age 19 and the hosts had to play the rest of the game down a man.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025
Two plays later, Barnes scored on a QB keeper to provide what was ultimately a 14-point swing.
—Idaho Statesman, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keeper
Cite this Entry
“Keeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keeper. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
keeper
noun
keep·er
ˈkē-pər 
: one that keeps
they are keepers of their word
especially
: a person who watches, guards, or takes care of something or someone
the keeper of a shop
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