keep 1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈkēp How to pronounce keep (audio)
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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2
as in to retain
to continue to have in one's possession or power the money is yours to keep keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone

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3
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter

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4
as in to store
to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests

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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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6
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away

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7
as in to control
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) try to keep your composure no matter what happens

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8
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from may God bless and keep you

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keep

2 of 5

noun

as in preserving
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters

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keep (from)

3 of 5

verb (2)

as in to avoid
to resist the temptation of try to keep from eating all the chocolate in one day!

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keep (to)

4 of 5

verb (3)

as in to stick (to or with)
to give steadfast support to always keeps to his political positions, even when they are unpopular

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keep to

5 of 5

phrase

as in obey
to act according to the commands of Let's keep to the original plan, shall we?

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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 right pair of silver sneakers will keep you comfortable on 20,000-step days, but still feel appropriate for fancy evenings out. — Kelsey Stiegman, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 July 2026 According to Bloomberg, citing Insurify, the average annual premium reached $8,292 last year, roughly four times what homeowners in New York pay, and costs are expected to keep climbing. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 July 2026
Noun
Girls who used to bully me and make my life miserable in high school keep DMing me, trying to get onto guest lists and into events. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 3 July 2026 But the backyard ideas for dogs that really earn their keep are the ones built around what your dog is driven to do. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
  1. celebrate
  2. retain
  3. fulfill
  4. store
  5. maintain
  6. manage
  7. control
  8. protect
Verb
  • Videos from Bangladesh, especially the capital city of Dhaka, of fans crowding the streets and celebrating Argentina victories have been a regular feature on social media across the tournament.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • This is the Gion Matsuri festival, born more than 1,000 years ago as a ritual to ward off epidemics and celebrated in the former imperial city of Kyoto throughout July.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
Definition of celebrate
Verb
  • Some members and associates of the Seidler family are expected to retain at least a portion of their stakes in the Padres.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The extradition process requires a hearing before a US judge to determine whether the treaty’s requirements are met, but the final decision is made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who retains discretion to deny extradition.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of retain
Verb
  • Clubs are allowed to name a maximum of 25 senior players for UEFA tournaments, though eight of those must be homegrown, with four having been ‘club trained’ (the latter requirement that Newcastle failed to fulfil in either 2023-24 or 2025-26).
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Let the city fund the two-year programs to help transition these workers into new and fulfilling careers.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026
Definition of fulfill
Verb
  • What stopped it was the absence of SKU-level data, the item-by-item detail that shows what was in the basket rather than which store the basket came from.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • One of his colleagues suggested buying one instead and storing it in a warehouse used by Goodall’s fruit and vegetable business.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of store
Verb
  • As Chinese companies have rushed to develop AI models and hardware that can rival that of the US, the government has also carefully rolled out incremental measures to maintain social stability.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • As the merger moves forward, Carmack said that respect, to him, would look like allowing the schools to share resources but maintain their individuality.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
Definition of maintain
Verb
  • For more advice on how to manage awkward conversations at family parties, click here.
    — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 18 July 2026
  • Joe McCarthy carried the ball strongly and Josh van der Flier went close before McCarthy managed to drive over the line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • Tate’s case previously included three counts of rape, four counts of actual bodily harm, two counts of human trafficking and one count of controlling prostitution for gain.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 19 July 2026
  • As for possible problems; a common Jeep issue is the smart fuse box—TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module)—which controls many aspects of the electrical system, including when various modules shut down after the key is turned off.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Definition of control
Verb
  • Research shows that protecting the Okefenokee’s peat and other deposits is key to limiting global warming.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • Although these ladies have access to the best of the best, even that doesn’t always protect patients from the worst-case scenario.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026
Definition of protect

Phrases Containing keep

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keens
keep
keep an eye on
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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on keep

Nglish: Translation of keep for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about keep

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