keep 1 of 2

Definition of keepnext
1
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony keep the Sabbath by not working

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to store
to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
as in to maintain
to pay the living expenses of agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs

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keep

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word keep different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of keep are celebrate, commemorate, and observe. While all these words mean "to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed," keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

Where would celebrate be a reasonable alternative to keep?

While in some cases nearly identical to keep, celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

When might commemorate be a better fit than keep?

In some situations, the words commemorate and keep are roughly equivalent. However, commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

When is it sensible to use observe instead of keep?

Although the words observe and keep have much in common, observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

How is the word keep different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of keep are celebrate, commemorate, and observe. While all these words mean "to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed," keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

Where would celebrate be a reasonable alternative to keep?

While in some cases nearly identical to keep, celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

When might commemorate be a better fit than keep?

In some situations, the words commemorate and keep are roughly equivalent. However, commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

When is it sensible to use observe instead of keep?

Although the words observe and keep have much in common, observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of keep
Verb
However, new beginnings are hard to get when the past and your family's name keep haunting you. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026 That in turn will keep depriving the Colorado of rain and snowmelt in the future. Mark Gongloff, Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
Several gardening experts have weighed in on exactly which tools earn their keep and which ones collect dust in the shed. Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026 Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and endlessly versatile in garden design, this evergreen favorite earns its keep. Lauren Dunec Hoang, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
  • It’s celebrated for health results, not necessarily hospitality.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Afterward, celebrating on the field, Miggy, who is Venezuelan, had tears in his eyes.
    Greg Cote Updated March 17, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But the organization is retaining its wider prohibition against receiving transfusions of others' blood -- a procedure routinely used with patients after accidents, violence or other blood loss.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Graduating and retaining students is a top priority at Morehouse, said Jonathan Jordan, the college’s director of financial aid.
    Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • This week’s adventures in dining were a bit of a mixed bag of Lenten fish fry, catching up with a friend and fulfilling a craving.
    Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Communication is the key to a happy home and fulfilling partnerships.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The footage from these intros becomes part of a vast digital database stored in the agency’s office.
    Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The fact that the barrels remain in an exceptional state of preservation speaks to the effectiveness of this 17th-century strategy to store lime long-term.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • People who dislike Minnelli’s singing maintain that her outer bombast conceals an inner void.
    Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
  • So, even after the military campaign ends, maintaining secure access through the strait for hydrocarbons will be an enduring concern.
    Derek Chollet, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The moves follow South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's instruction on Tuesday to activate a preemptive emergency response system, as Seoul stepped up efforts to manage the economic fallout from the conflict.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
  • This project offers an alternative to a byproduct that distilleries currently find difficult and expensive to manage.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Lucas had said the game would come down to who took care of the ball better, who controlled the glass and who won the rebounding battle.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
  • The airline also opened a flight attendant base in Austin in October and expects to control 15 gates once a major expansion at Austin-Bergstrom is completed in the early 2030s.
    Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Both are recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, the 2012 executive action signed by former President Barack Obama that protects people brought to the United States as children from deportation.
    Juan Carlos Chavez, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

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