keeping

noun

keep·​ing ˈkē-piŋ 

1

: conformity

in keeping with good taste

out of keeping with the decor

2

: the act of one that keeps: such as

a

: custody, maintenance

b

: observance

c

: a reserving or preserving for future use

3

a

: the means by which something is kept : support, provision

b

: the state of being kept or the condition in which something is kept

the house is in good keeping

Synonyms of keeping

• custody
• care

Examples of keeping in a Sentence

put the house keys into a neighbor's secure keeping while they were on vacation

my aunt has all of our family's old photographs in her keeping

Recent Examples on the Web

This month is tracking as the driest March in more than a century of record-keeping. —Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2026

Hyundai's midsize car comes with standard safety features like lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning and blind-spot collision warning. —Charles Singh, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

Charles was introduced to chicken keeping by his beloved grandmother, the Queen Mother. —Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026

Allison Prater, a meteorologist with the weather service, said since record-keeping began in 1899, the average arrival of the first 90-degree day at DFW International Airport is April 18. —Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing keeping

• how are you keeping
• in keeping with
• in someone's keeping
• keeping a watching brief
• keeping company with the likes of
• keeping room
• keeping the peace
• out of keeping with
• record-keeping
• standing/keeping guard
• what is keeping someone

Rhymes for keeping

• beeping
• creeping
• heaping
• leaping
• peeping
• reaping
• seeping
• sleeping
• steeping
• sweeping
• weeping
• beekeeping

Kids Definition

keeping

noun

keep·​ing

ˈkē-piŋ

1

: watchful attention : care

2

: a proper or fitting relationship : harmony

in keeping with good taste