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

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

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
Also be sure to keep an eye out for wild sloth viewings all the while, as this region is full of them. Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026 Investors fear that the war will disrupt the Persian Gulf's energy industry for a long time, setting off a punishing wave of global inflation by keeping large amounts of oil and natural gas out of global markets. CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
Large contributions buy influence over politicians and their votes, which is why the super-rich keep getting richer while so many ordinary people struggle. Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
  • Eight strikeouts shy of 250 for her career entering the game, Langford hit that mark against the lead-off batter in the top of the sixth, and her team gathered around its standout hurler on the mound to celebrate.
    Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
  • As Fragrance Day approaches each March, the industry celebrates artistry, launches and consumer engagement.
    Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Mair missed a 3 from the corner with 5 seconds to play for Duke, but the Blue Devils retained possession after the ball went off an LSU player.
    Joe Davidson March 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
  • If signed, municipalities retain some say, with provisions allowing cities to stop plans that present deleterious environmental impacts, health and safety risks, or undue burden on infrastructure like sewer or water.
    Mark Dee March 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The agency is struggling to fulfill key parts of its public health mission, as waves of cutbacks, uncertainty in the workforce and a leadership vacuum have taken a toll.
    Pien Huang, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The band had been on a hiatus of more than three years because some members needed to fulfill their mandatory military service.
    Cynthia Kim, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The red mesh sack, of the kind typically used to store oranges or onions, is stamped with her name, immigration number and date of deportation.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
  • After years of sustained demand, the snack returned to store shelves in 2020.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 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
  • The vendor chalked this up to Apple controlling the entire update stack, as opposed to Android, where updates are likely fragmented across diverse manufacturers and device types.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Lenney also advocated for controlling the demand side of the market, addressing the housing crunch by restricting who could buy homes by banning large institutions from purchasing them as investments.
    Mark Dee March 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Ultimately, a lack of Democratic support for weakening the filibuster prevented them from passing that legislation, but Republicans were also vehemently opposed and leaned on arguments about protecting states’ rights.
    David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026
  • In May, the state attorney general's office will return to court to seek a judge's order that the company makes changes to its systems to protect children.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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