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

But Lotta would return to Sweden, with the two keeping in touch through letters. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026

Memory keeping is no longer reserved for weddings and baby books. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026

Without proper record keeping from a company (which may also have seen tariff rates on their product change over the course of the year), the process of applying for refunds may also become more challenging. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026

With little more than five minutes on the clock, the frustration in the stands about Arsenal’s time-keeping was loud and clear. —Stuart James, New York Times, 6 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