kept

Definition of keptnext
past tense of keep
1
2
3
4
as in stored
to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
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

6
7
8

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 Though the start of the pandemic soon after halted her momentum, DeVaux kept at it, eventually taking the Breeder’s Cup in 2024. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 3 May 2026 The fight, though, kept getting delayed. Chang-Rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026 Cade Cunningham had maybe his best all-around game of the series with 32 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and kept his turnovers down to four after having 30 over the previous four games. Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 May 2026 However, the queen reportedly kept a file with the names of all the women Philip had been involved with, a list that included at least a dozen women, including the mother of Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 2 May 2026 Meanwhile at the other end, Swayman (22 saves) kept the B’s in the game with several high-end saves in the second, including a couple of Buffalo’s power play in the second. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026 All calls will be kept confidential. Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026 Sweeping ban The capital already had tighter restrictions, with a no-fly zone that kept expanding over recent years. Todd Symons, CNN Money, 2 May 2026 Trump kept a straight face during Obama’s speech, and at one point even waved during the president’s remarks. Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kept
Verb
  • Chicagoans celebrated May Day on May 1, also known as International Workers’ Day, with performances, rallies and marches all over the city, from Union Park to Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
    Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
  • And no, this isn’t to say grandmas and moms of grown kids don’t deserve to be celebrated.
    Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Cakenhagen, a café that doles out beautiful pastries; and the historic Grøften restaurant, which has retained its good vibes since 1874.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The pitching department was largely spared and assistant hitting coach John Soteropulos was the only member of the hitting group retained.
    Mac Cerullo, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The grand Denver Derby Party is calling it quits, having fulfilled its mission of raising $5 million for the Sean Ranch Lough Foundation.
    John Wenzel, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The fun of the strategic planning, the beautiful and unique backdrop and the mix of Pitch Pines, maples and all kinds of other New England flora would leave me fulfilled lower score or not.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • All of it is encrypted, and some of it could be stored by actors anticipating that current encryption methods may become less effective over time.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • When the effluent isn’t treated or is improperly stored, the chemicals can seep into groundwater and waterways, contaminating aquifers and rivers.
    Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Chatty maintained that the city should prioritize internal audits over new taxes.
    Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
  • Well defined and placed, they are well maintained.
    Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Cleveland had the lead and the ball in the final 20 seconds of overtime and still managed to lose 112-110.
    Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 May 2026
  • Despite missiles flying overhead — and occasionally falling on Syrian territory — Syria managed to stay on the sidelines and positioned itself as an alternative transport route for oil exports that could no longer be sent through the strait.
    Abby Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • The authors argued that the typical American diet contained excessive calories and fat and lacked sufficient amounts of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Burick and one of his students assemble the base for one of ENIAC’s three portable function tables, which contained banks of switches that stored numerical constants.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That also means that any data those apps collect isn’t stored or protected to the same standards as actual medical records or patient files.
    Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
  • Boyd and his wife founded the nonprofit Kingdom Home after a 2018 trip to Uganda in an effort to ensure Ugandan children are protected from exploitation by providing shelter, proper nutrition, career training, music lessons and medical care.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kept.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kept. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on kept

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster