kept

past tense of keep
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as in stored
to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in maintained
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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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 kept Adding flip-flops kept it less serious. Libby Page, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025 For the second year in a row, this gritty paste has kept our lips softer, smoother, and flake-freer than any of its peers. Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025 Hugo kept his cool as his crew became increasingly ensnared in Solène’s machinations and managed to keep a respectable distance from the interpersonal drama of the boat. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025 Her ability to see around corners and pivot when necessary kept her ahead of the competition. Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Demonstration units shown at arms fairs are typically reserved for foreign customers or kept aside from immediate operational use. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025 For the past 25 years, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule has kept vital forests and grassland safe from bulldozers, saws, excavators and drilling equipment. Ryan Gellert, Time, 9 Sep. 2025 Zara Larsson and Livvy Dunne kept it chill and cute while hanging out in their seats. Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 For years, Coverley kept her daughters’ existence a secret from her own parents. Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kept
Verb
  • Earlier this year, Black celebrated the birth of another son, who was sleeping peacefully at home as Black recounted his story.
    Cara Anthony, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The cases were largely led by the commanding figure of Justice Alexandre de Moraes, appointed to the court by a conservative president in 2017, whose stance against Bolsonaro and his allies was celebrated by the left and denounced by the right as political persecution.
    Ricardo Brito, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Canales retained Evero in 2024 with the thought that the defensive coordinator would essentially be the head coach of the defense.
    Mike Kaye September 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Fixed and variable factory labor is carefully managed, with core labor retained full-time and trade labor flexed as needed.
    Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Liberation from time and pruning through mass dishwasher ownership is a dream that remainsonly partly fulfilled.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Half of Walmart’s online orders are fulfilled from stores, with the rest coming from Walmart warehouses and seller warehouses.
    Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Solid rocket motors can be stored for longer periods of time and are easier to conceal, transport, and launch on demand.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • This liquid air is stored in insulated tanks like a giant energy reserve.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Even when submarines employed advanced decoys or drones to confuse the search, the AI maintained its pursuit, adapting in real time to stay on target.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The result is a collection that maintained the essence of IVY moda’s DNA while boldly stepping into new territory and appealing to a new generation of fashion fans.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Autumn Fire has been burning on federal land managed by the United States Forest Service for 16 hours.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • With head coach Dean Smith suspended (yellow card accumulation), associate head coach Miles Joseph managed Charlotte to its fifth clean sheet in six games.
    Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • On a sunny Tuesday morning, 35-year-old Rita Guerrero stepped out from her door on North Mariposa Street, lively pup Olive barely contained by her leash.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Police quickly contained the situation as around 150 mostly young demonstrators chanted anti-police slogans in a largely calm atmosphere.
    Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • That’s because the First Amendment plays a unique role when the government is the employer, Collis explains — and the Supreme Court has ruled that if an employee is acting in a private capacity but speaking on a matter of public concern, they’re protected.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Kept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kept. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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