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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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keep

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noun

keep (from)

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verb (2)

keep (to)

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verb (3)

keep to

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phrase

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
Later in the inning, Montgomery jumped on a 2-0 cutter and kept the ball fair down the right-field line. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026 The companies that keep learning will pull away from those that wait for certainty. Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 8 May 2026
Noun
The patio earns its keep as both a relaxing retreat and a working kitchen garden. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026 There’s a trophy that Kelly Elliott and her family keep. Michael Howes, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
  • The boutique hotel group was created by Kostis Karatzas, who’s also the founder of The Greek Foundation (a platform celebrating Greek creativity) and the publisher of The Athens Guide, meaning there’s an emphasis on connecting guests with the most exciting happenings in this vibrant city.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
  • Ashley Judd is celebrating her younger self.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Lio Rush to retain the Ring of Honor World TV Championship.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
  • The city even wants to use bricks instead of asphalt to retain the area's image.
    Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Established in 2020, to be eligible for a best picture nomination a film must fulfill diversity criteria that includes a combination of casting, subject matter, leadership and departments heads, crew, apprenticeships and/or audience development.
    Zack Sharf, Variety, 13 May 2026
  • Researchers at Colliers said this shift is driven by the fact that one in four online orders is now fulfilled directly through a physical store.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Among the few thousand photographs stored in the house, Djena appeared in fewer than forty.
    Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • The vineyard is currently leased to a local winemaker, offering a hands-off approach to production, though the resulting vintages can be stored in the home’s custom wine cellar, which accommodates up to 1,880 bottles.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • The Athletic maintains full editorial independence.
    Data Skrive, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Human Connection Is Only Becoming More Important In the age of AI, bringing human touch and creativity to the fore is critical to building and maintaining consumer trust, executives said.
    Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Reece James ticks the most boxes, but would need to be managed through a tournament that could involve eight matches in 33 days.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Analysts also cheered the launch of software tools for developers and AI agents to manage and transact with USDC, Circle's flagship stablecoin.
    Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The war in Myanmar has displaced millions, divided the country into military- and non-military-controlled areas, and gutted the economy and healthcare system.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 16 May 2026
  • According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, PSP is caused by damage to nerve cells in areas of the brain that control thinking and body movements.
    Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Uthmeier has also argued that the government has a duty to protect children who didn’t have a say in not being raised by both biological parents.
    Ann Marie Luft, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
  • The Administration’s lawyer, James Powers, argued that the Warrington guidance would protect the groups’ interest in insuring that records remain available.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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