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

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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

2 of 2

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

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
The Spurs entered Saturday night trailing the Knicks 3-1 in the NBA Finals, needing a win to keep their season alive and force the series back to Madison Square Garden. Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026 Despite some wage growth, incomes haven’t kept pace with persistent inflation. Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Noun
For families, The Mitten Brewing Company delivers a winning keep-everyone-happy combination—good pizza, room for kids to play, and a tasty cream ale called The Stretch. Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 2 June 2026 Relatively speaking, the Primetime Emmys are still a massive platform and the social media impressions surrounding the telecast keep growing. Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
  • The New York Knicks have received and accepted an invitation to visit the White House to celebrate their NBA championship, owner James Dolan confirmed Wednesday.
    Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
  • The whole crew, minus Jason, who can’t bend his knee, and Lacy, who needs a whole day to get to an airport owned by John Wayne, goes to Punta Mita, Mexico, to celebrate the birthdays of Schwartz, Zack, and Danny.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Iran insists on retaining a degree of control over the waterway and gaining immediate access to its frozen funds, while negotiations over the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment would take place after the interim deal is signed.
    Arsalan Shahla, Fortune, 13 June 2026
  • The pool was rebuilt but retained its kidney-bean shape, a nod to early 20th-century design.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • The operators of Sakura Market hope to fulfill the numerous grocery and dining needs of people downtown.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
  • Making savings while fulfilling our mission means a doubly difficult time for everyone.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • That's why making noise, storing food properly and carrying accessible bear spray remain your best defenses.
    Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
  • The only opposition came from James Eadie, a licensed pyrotechnic operator, who said hobby rocket users could have difficulty complying with the bill because many local governments do not have permitting processes for storing small quantities of rocket motors.
    Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Lieurance, 73, was a dentist who maintained a years-long practice in Wichita before moving to Overland Park, reportedly to be closer to his children and grandchildren.
    Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
  • Griffin said previous discussions had put the city’s subsidy at between $700 and $1,200 per rooftop to maintain service standards.
    Noah Daly June 16, Idaho Statesman, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Interim manager Chad Tracy has now managed against every AL East team.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • Hydrotherapy is the main draw and is especially helpful for active travelers or anyone managing chronic pain.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Non-chemical methods like rinsing, soapy water, and attracting predator insects can control aphids.
    Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 12 June 2026
  • Testing robotics beyond factory floors Industrial robots have long been used in factories, where conditions are highly controlled.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Australia is accelerating efforts to protect frontline troops from the growing threat of small drones, awarding a contract to defense technology firm OpenWorks under the Australian Defence Force’s Land 156 counter-drone program.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
  • More recent land news Republicans have introduced an amendment to a federal wildfire bill that would repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule protecting certain national forest lands from logging and roadbuilding, reports Brooke Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune.
    Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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