Synonyms of keeping

keeping 1 of 2

noun

1

as in custody

responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• custody
• care
• control
• safekeeping
• ward
• management
• guardianship
• trust
• custodianship
• hand(s)
• supervision
• superintendence
• governorship

2

as in hands

the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hands
• enjoyment
• control
• possession
• ownership
• retention
• proprietorship
• power
• claiming
• mastery
• dominion
• procurement
• command
• commandeering
• confiscation
• collaring
• authority
• repossession

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relinquishment
• surrendering
• nonpossession
• dispossession
• transferal

3

as in adherence

the following of a custom, rule, or law

the keeping of religious laws and traditions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adherence
• compliance
• observation
• conformity
• conformance
• observance
• obedience
• respect
• upholding
• abidance
• deference
• regard
• surrender
• attendance
• submission
• attention
• acquiescence
• honor
• accession
• heed
• notice

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• violation
• ignoring
• breach
• infringement
• contravention
• disregard
• transgression
• trespass
• forgetting
• infraction
• neglect
• delinquency
• offense
• challenge
• nonobservance
• offence
• sin
• wrong
• overlooking
• rebellion
• dereliction
• brush-off
• defiance
• flouting

4

as in shape

a state of being or fitness

the estate hasn't been in good keeping since the owner suffered financial reverses

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shape
• health
• condition
• repair
• form
• order
• estate
• trim
• kilter
• practice
• nick
• fettle
• practise
• situation
• standing
• phase
• pass
• status
• posture
• stage
• footing
• scene
• picture
• rank

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• disorder
• disrepair

keeping

2 of 2

verb

present participle of keep

1

as in celebrating

to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony

keep the Sabbath by not working

Synonyms & Similar Words

• celebrating
• commemorating
• observing
• remembering
• blessing
• honoring
• sanctifying
• praising
• consecrating
• solemnizing
• lauding
• memorializing
• fêting
• feting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breaking
• violating
• ignoring
• forgetting
• neglecting
• disregarding
• transgressing
• overlooking
• blowing off

2

as in retaining

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retaining
• holding
• preserving
• saving
• possessing
• having
• protecting
• conserving
• reserving
• withholding
• enjoying
• guarding
• owning
• managing
• holding on to
• controlling
• hanging on to
• boasting
• directing
• ruling
• harboring
• hugging
• detaining
• commanding
• clinging (to)
• cherishing
• treasuring
• bearing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yielding
• releasing
• giving
• relinquishing
• abandoning
• surrendering
• dropping
• contributing
• giving up
• dumping
• donating
• discarding
• losing
• handing over
• declining
• rejecting
• handing out
• ceding
• repudiating
• spurning

3

as in fulfilling

to do what is required by the terms of

make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fulfilling
• satisfying
• completing
• meeting
• filling
• answering
• finalizing
• making good
• complying (with)
• achieving
• making
• finishing
• accomplishing
• executing
• redeeming
• making good on
• effecting
• perfecting
• abiding by
• concluding
• carrying out
• performing
• bringing about
• consummating
• committing
• discharging
• bringing off
• following through (with)
• compassing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breaking
• violating
• breaching
• ignoring
• transgressing
• forgetting
• neglecting
• disregarding
• overlooking
• defaulting (on)
• passing over
• slighting
• overpassing

4

as in storing

to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability

I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

• storing
• stowing
• packing
• housing
• repositing
• filing
• putting up
• warehousing
• hangaring
• shelving
• garaging
• cellaring

5

as in supporting

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

• supporting
• maintaining
• providing (for)
• taking care of
• financing
• funding
• sponsoring
• underwriting
• footing the bill (for)
• staking
• patronizing
• setting up

6

as in managing

to look after and make decisions about

enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away

Synonyms & Similar Words

• managing
• operating
• supervising
• controlling
• overseeing
• regulating
• handling
• running
• conducting
• governing
• guiding
• protecting
• directing
• administering
• tending
• administrating
• presiding (over)
• superintending
• overlooking
• carrying on
• stewarding
• watching over
• watching
• steering
• leading
• safeguarding
• guarding
• minding
• piloting
• caring (for)
• micromanaging
• stage-managing
• comanaging
• codirecting
• co-managing
• co-directing

7

as in controlling

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)

try to keep your composure no matter what happens

Synonyms & Similar Words

• controlling
• regulating
• containing
• curbing
• restraining
• holding
• measuring
• checking
• suppressing
• taming
• stifling
• governing
• stopping
• inhibiting
• constraining
• ruling
• pulling in
• interrupting
• bridling
• swallowing
• repressing
• reining (in)
• strangling
• impeding
• hindering
• blocking
• smothering
• hampering
• holding back
• obstructing
• arresting
• choking (back)
• sinking
• silencing
• squelching
• bottling (up)
• mincing
• muffling
• pocketing
• handcuffing
• muzzling
• gagging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• losing
• loosening
• liberating
• expressing
• venting
• taking out
• loosing
• airing
• unleashing

8

as in protecting

to drive danger or attack away from

may God bless and keep you

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protecting
• defending
• safeguarding
• guarding
• shielding
• securing
• warding
• preventing
• saving
• fending
• covering
• preserving
• fencing
• screening
• conserving
• bulwarking
• resisting
• forfending
• standing up for
• opposing
• withstanding
• averting
• fighting
• warring
• contending
• battling
• picketing
• buffering
• walling
• palisading

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attacking
• assaulting
• assailing
• bombarding
• storming
• submitting
• yielding
• besieging
• overrunning
• besetting
• caving
• capitulating