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

• care
• custodianship
• custody
• guardianship
• safekeeping
• trust
• ward

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

All Congress would need to do is maintain the BSA’s record keeping requirements while ditching its reporting requirements and ensuring that law enforcement can only access those records with a valid search warrant. —Norbert Michel, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

His wit, friendliness and humanity — even in the midst of vital political battles — have always been a reminder that public servants can't succeed without maintaining relationships and keeping perspective. —Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 6 Sep. 2024

Sky Harbor International Airport recorded 3.3 inches of precipitation in one day, the most in over 115 years of record keeping. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2024

And in Atlanta, where only car roofs peeked above floodwaters in some neighborhoods, more than 11 inches of rain fell over 48 hours — the most the city has seen over two days since record keeping began in 1878. —Stephen Smith, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024

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
• out of keeping with
• record-keeping
• what is keeping someone

Kids Definition

keeping

noun

keep·​ing

ˈkē-piŋ

1

: watchful attention : care

2

: a proper or fitting relationship : harmony

in keeping with good taste