keep 1 of 2

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

2
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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
Upgrading now keeps your PC safe, fast, and ready for the future. PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025 Then keep scrolling to shop more fall hosting essentials under $50. Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
Honestly, video doorbells earn their keep just by catching package drops and raccoons with attitude. PC Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025 Zubimendi was leading the keep-ball in front of the defence. Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
  • Someone tried to senselessly end her life, yet now thousands of people are cheering for her and celebrating every milestone.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • For its inaugural partnership, the skin care and makeup line, founded by Selena Gomez in 2019, teamed up with Tajín to drop a spicy lip and cheek set celebrating the bold flavor of the Clásico Seasoning mix and the Chamoy Sauce.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The contractor retained a good reputation in Washington and has continued to work for the State Department on overseas assignments.
    T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Wall Street Journal The latest benefit trend to attract and retain young workers?
    Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Among them is harnessing what is sometimes referred to as clean heat, which means fulfilling the supply chain’s thermal energy needs with renewable sources such as wind and solar.
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
  • In January, the TPSF fulfilled a $25 million funding commitment to Velocity Elevate LP.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • We, in collaboration with our partners, store and/or access information on a user's device, including but not limited to IP addresses, unique identifiers, and browsing data stored in cookies, in order to process personal data.
    Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Or bundle the thyme and store it like flowers in a jar filled with water and cover it loosely with a plastic bag.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • During a July meeting on the development strategy for the Russian submarine forces, President Vladimir Putin said submarines play a key role in ensuring the country's sovereignty and security, protecting its interests and maintaining strategic parity.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
    Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The dispute affected educators and policymakers statewide — but Pendleton managed to take the best of both literacy methods and apply them to the 130,000-plus students then enrolled in San Diego schools, Lopez said.
    Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
  • This was big news in an evolving saga of how college athletics departments, facing seismic financial change, would manage to cope with growing costs like revenue-sharing with athletes.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Cycling the heat on and off allows the robots to adjust speed and even change direction — proof that controlled, repeatable motion is possible at this tiny scale.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The goals of treatment are to control the infection, stabilize the patient and support any organs that are affected or failing.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • They’re designed for indoor and outdoor wear thanks to a durable outsole and warm shearling lining that protects against chilly temperatures.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
  • They are designed to protect homes and businesses against the type of winter storms that have severely flooded the low-lying community of Alviso multiple times with water up to 6 feet deep and which are posing more risk as sea level rises due to climate change.
    Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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