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

Still, every few minutes, a treasure hunter finds an unsullied remnant and places it in a tote bag or basket for safe keeping. —Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026

All the food, which had been prepared the day before, needed to be at or under 41 degrees for safe keeping. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026

Eventually, Norfolk Southern enacted a Bulletin keeping stopped trains out of Hessville unless there was an operational problem or mechanical defect that prevented trains from continuing into Chicago. —Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026

One boys team already got tossed for shoddy record-keeping. —Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 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