keep 1 of 5

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

2
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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

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

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 future of Aerosmith is extremely uncertain due to Steven Tyler’s injured larynx, but that isn’t stopping guitarist Joe Perry from keeping the band’s music alive on the road. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025 And the ongoing speculation about further tax rises in the Autumn Budget will probably keep consumers in a cautious mood. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
Commercial outlets survive by earning their keep — not by relying on subsidies that every citizen is compelled to support. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2025 The office has earned its keep over the years by producing detailed, unbiased analyses of the cost and performance of major weapons systems like the F-35 combat aircraft. William Hartung, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Noun
  • These options require less maintenance and are less risky than trying to pick individual stocks.
    True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Construction and maintenance at the Hall of Fame is specifically funded by a 2% hotel occupancy tax.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Montgomery County Maryland has a Pay In Lieu of Taxes or PILOT program to facilitate the creation and preservation of housing with lower rents.
    Roger Valdez, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Mom’s corpse is then put in a salted plastic barrel for preservation’s sake, and loaded onto a cart the daughter is prepared to pull all the way to the distant sea.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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