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

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

The West has just experienced its warmest winter since record-keeping began in 1895. —Jonathan Thompson, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026

Cars are theoretically getting safer, equipped with such features as lane-keeping, emergency braking, rearview cameras, collision warnings and crumple zones. —Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026

The reason meteorological spring occurs on March 1 is mainly for record-keeping. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 15 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