Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

keeper

noun
Save Word
keep·​er | \ ˈkē-pər How to pronounce keeper (audio) \

Definition of keeper

1 : one that keeps: such as
a : protector
b : gamekeeper
c : warden
d : custodian
e chiefly British : curator
2 : any of various devices for keeping something in position
3a : 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 : goalkeeper
5 : an offensive football play in which the quarterback runs with the ball
Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about keeper

Keep scrolling for more

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 The last northern male white rhino, laying with his head on the ground and his keeper touching Sudan, forehead to forehead. — National Geographic, "Episode 8: The Frozen Zoo," 10 Dec. 2019 But with Clockers trailing by a point in the fourth quarter , Cavanagh connected with senior Jake Latessa on a 73-yard catch-and-run, setting up his own 1-yard keeper and the Clockers were on their way to a 28-22 win over Bishop Fenwick. — BostonGlobe.com, "“He’s been doing it all year,” said Ashland coach Andrew MacKay, a 2002 grad of the school. “It felt like it was there all day, but whenever we need these boys, we can count on them for sure.”," 7 Dec. 2019 Artist’s widows are keepers of the flame and often epic trouble makers. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, "Puzzling over Meaning in Winslow Homer’s Kissing the Moon," 7 Dec. 2019 And it's brought to life by a librarian who is unexpectedly the keeper of a little boy who doesn't seem to have anywhere to go on Christmas Eve. — Becca Martin-brown, Arkansas Online, "A Delightful New 'Christmas Carol'," 25 Nov. 2019 Going by precedent, a state like Madhya Pradesh, for instance, would take 294 years to have 33% women among its law-keepers. — Manavi Kapur, Quartz India, "Some Indian states will take over 200 years to make a third of their police forces female," 7 Nov. 2019 The previous August, my brother Joseph, three years my senior, my childhood playmate and confidant, my soul mate and friend, my keeper of secrets, died tragically. — Janine Di Giovanni, Harper's magazine, "Notes on a Crisis," 28 Oct. 2019 Their keepers had hoped the two would mate -- even installing a maternity den -- but Ahpun never became pregnant. — Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, "Lyutyik the polar bear, Alaska Zoo webcam star, has died," 15 Oct. 2019 Christian Eriksen would be the man to rescue his keeper on this occasion - scoring his second goal of the afternoon to wrap up all three points. — SI.com, "10 of Hugo Lloris' Greatest Goalkeeping Calamities," 30 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'keeper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of keeper

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about keeper

Time Traveler for keeper

Time Traveler

The first known use of keeper was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Statistics for keeper

Last Updated

24 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Keeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keeper. Accessed 28 Feb. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for keeper

keeper

noun
How to pronounce keeper (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of keeper

: a person whose job is to guard or take care of something or someone
US, informal : something or someone that is worth keeping : something or someone that is good, valuable, etc.
American football : a play in which the quarterback runs with the ball

See the full definition for keeper in the English Language Learners Dictionary

keeper

noun
keep·​er | \ ˈkē-pər How to pronounce keeper (audio) \

Kids Definition of keeper

: a person who watches, guards, or takes care of something

keeper

noun
keep·​er

Legal Definition of keeper

: one that takes care of and often is legally responsible for something a dog's keeper a keeper of the property

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on keeper

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for keeper

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with keeper

Spanish Central: Translation of keeper

Nglish: Translation of keeper for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of keeper for Arabic Speakers

Comments on keeper

What made you want to look up keeper? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

coax

Listen to the pronounciation of coax

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

More Confusing Words—Quiz

  • cats on impossible timber
  • The magician ______ moved the selected card to the top of the deck.
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games