keeping

noun

keep·​ing ˈkē-piŋ 

1

: conformity

in keeping with good taste

out of keeping with the decor

2

: the act of one that keeps: such as

a

: custody, maintenance

b

: observance

c

: a reserving or preserving for future use

3

a

: the means by which something is kept : support, provision

b

: the state of being kept or the condition in which something is kept

the house is in good keeping

Synonyms of keeping

• custody
• care

Examples of keeping in a Sentence

put the house keys into a neighbor's secure keeping while they were on vacation

my aunt has all of our family's old photographs in her keeping

Recent Examples on the Web

The problem of drift and difficulties with station-keeping were among the issues that led to the demise of the Google Loon project, according to Frandsen. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 24 Nov. 2025

The celebrity gossip outlet reports Combs was filmed at his job in the chapel’s library, organizing and record keeping as well as handing out books to fellow inmates. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 Nov. 2025

Lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert are also standard. —James Raia, Mercury News, 23 Nov. 2025

The sheriff's office reminded residents that no government agency or business will contact them asking to access bank accounts or take money for safe keeping. —Tim Fang, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing keeping

• how are you keeping
• in keeping with
• in someone's keeping
• keeping a watching brief
• keeping company with the likes of
• keeping room
• keeping the peace
• out of keeping with
• record-keeping
• standing/keeping guard
• what is keeping someone

Rhymes for keeping

• beeping
• creeping
• heaping
• leaping
• peeping
• reaping
• seeping
• sleeping
• steeping
• sweeping
• weeping
• beekeeping

Kids Definition

keeping

noun

keep·​ing

ˈkē-piŋ

1

: watchful attention : care

2

: a proper or fitting relationship : harmony

in keeping with good taste