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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | cepan |
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keep1 S1 W1
past tense and past participle kept
past tense and past participle kept
1 to stay in a particular state, condition, or position, or to make someone or something do this
not change
[linking verb, transitive] keep (somebody/something) away/back/off/out etc 
The police put up barriers to keep the crowds back.If I were you, I'd keep away from that area at night. a sign saying 'Danger: Keep out' The little boy kept close to his mother.
The police put up barriers to keep the crowds back.If I were you, I'd keep away from that area at night.a sign saying 'Danger: Keep out'The little boy kept close to his mother. keep (somebody) out of something Keep him out of trouble. You keep out of this, Mother (=do not get involved). It's no concern of yours.
Keep him out of trouble.You keep out of this, Mother (=do not get involved). It's no concern of yours. keep left/right (=stay to the left or right of a path or road as you move)
2 to continue doing something or to do the same thing many times
continue doing something
also keep on [intransitive] keep (on) doing something I keep thinking about Joe, all alone in that place. I keep telling you, but you won't listen! She pretended not to hear, and kept on walking.
! Do not say 'keep up' doing something. Say keep doing something or keep on doing something.I keep thinking about Joe, all alone in that place.I keep telling you, but you won't listen!She pretended not to hear, and kept on walking.3 to have something and not give it back to the person who had it before : You can keep it. I don't need it any more.
not give back
[transitive]You can keep it. I don't need it any more.4 to continue to have something and not lose it or get rid of it : We decided to keep our old car instead of selling it. I kept his letters for years. In spite of everything, Robyn's managed to keep her sense of humor.
not lose
[transitive]We decided to keep our old car instead of selling it.I kept his letters for years.In spite of everything, Robyn's managed to keep her sense of humor.5 to leave something in one particular place so that you can find it easily : Where do you keep your tea bags? George kept a bottle of whiskey under his bed.
store something
[transitive always + adverb/preposition]Where do you keep your tea bags?George kept a bottle of whiskey under his bed.6 to make someone stay in a place, especially a prison or hospital : He was kept in prison for a week without charge.
make somebody stay in a place
[transitive always + adverb preposition]He was kept in prison for a week without charge.7 to delay someone : He should be here by now. What's keeping him?
delay somebody
[transitive]He should be here by now. What's keeping him?8 to do what you have promised or agreed to do
do what you promised
[transitive]10 to not say anything in order to avoid telling a secret or causing problems
keep something quiet/keep quiet (about something)
12
keep going
a) to have or to give someone enough hope and emotional strength to continue living and doing things, in a bad situation : That woman's been through such a lot - I don't know how she keeps going. Her letters were the only thing that kept me going while I was in prison.
keep (somebody) going
That woman's been through such a lot - I don't know how she keeps going.Her letters were the only thing that kept me going while I was in prison.b) if you keep a business, institution, regular event etc going, you keep it open or make it continue to happen : The library costs £5 million a year to run, and the council can't afford to keep it going.
keep (something) going
The library costs £5 million a year to run, and the council can't afford to keep it going.c) to continue doing something difficult : Persevere and keep going until you reach your ideal weight.
keep going
Persevere and keep going until you reach your ideal weight.d) if something keeps you going, it is enough to satisfy your need while you are waiting to get something bigger or better : I'll have a biscuit to keep me going until dinner time.
keep somebody going
I'll have a biscuit to keep me going until dinner time.13 if food keeps, it stays fresh enough to be eaten : Eat the salmon because it won't keep till tomorrow.
food
[intransitive]Eat the salmon because it won't keep till tomorrow.14 to own and look after animals : We keep chickens and a couple of pigs.
animals
[transitive]We keep chickens and a couple of pigs.15 to stop other people from using something, so that it is available for someone [= save]: Will you keep a seat for me?
stop other people from using something
[transitive]Will you keep a seat for me?18 to own a small business and work in it
shop
[transitive] British English old-fashioned19 to provide someone with money, food etc : He did not earn enough to keep a wife and children.
provide somebody with things
[transitive]He did not earn enough to keep a wife and children.20 to guard or protect someone : The Lord bless you and keep you.
protect
[transitive] formalThe Lord bless you and keep you.21 to be the player in a team whose job is to protect the goal or wicket ➔ goalkeeper, wicket keeper
keep goal/wicket
22 spoken used to tell someone not to say anything or make any noise : Keep quiet! I'm trying to watch the game.
keep quiet
Keep quiet! I'm trying to watch the game.23 spoken used to ask if someone is well : 'Hi, Mark! How are you keeping?' 'Oh, not so bad.'
how are you keeping?
'Hi, Mark! How are you keeping?' 'Oh, not so bad.'25 spoken used to say that you do not want or are not interested in something : She can keep her wild parties and posh friends - I like the quiet life.
somebody can keep something
She can keep her wild parties and posh friends - I like the quiet life.26 spoken used to say that you can tell someone something or do something later : 'I don't have time to listen now.' 'Don't worry, it'll keep.'
it'll keep
'I don't have time to listen now.' 'Don't worry, it'll keep.'keep at something
phrasal verb1 spoken to continue to do something, although it is difficult or hard work : I know it's hard, but keep at it! Don't give up!
I know it's hard, but keep at it! Don't give up!keep back
phrasal verb1 to deliberately not tell someone all that you know about something : I got the feeling he was keeping something back.
keep something back
I got the feeling he was keeping something back.2 to not show your feelings, even though you want to very much :
keep something ↔ back
3 to prevent someone from being as successful as they could be [= hold back]: Fear and stereotypes have kept women back for centuries.
keep somebody ↔ back
Fear and stereotypes have kept women back for centuries.4 to not give or pay something that you were going to give : They kept back some of his wages to pay for the damage.
keep something ↔ back
especially British EnglishThey kept back some of his wages to pay for the damage.keep somebody/something ↔ down
phrasal verb1 to prevent the size, cost, or quantity of something from increasing or being too great : We need to keep costs down.
We need to keep costs down.2 to succeed in keeping food in your stomach, instead of bringing it up again out of your mouth, when you are ill : I could hardly keep anything down for about three days.
I could hardly keep anything down for about three days.3 used to ask someone to make less noise :
4 to prevent a group of people from becoming as successful and powerful as the other people in a society : Plantation owners kept slaves down by refusing them an education.
Plantation owners kept slaves down by refusing them an education.keep from something
phrasal verb1 to prevent someone from doing something or prevent something from happening
keep (somebody/something) from something
keep somebody from (doing) something His ex-wife had kept him from seeing his children. I hope I haven't kept you from your work.
His ex-wife had kept him from seeing his children.I hope I haven't kept you from your work. keep something from doing something Put the pizza in the bottom of the oven to keep the cheese from burning.
Put the pizza in the bottom of the oven to keep the cheese from burning. keep (yourself) from doing something The play was so boring, I could hardly keep myself from falling asleep.
The play was so boring, I could hardly keep myself from falling asleep.2 to prevent someone from knowing something, by deliberately not telling them about it [= withhold]: The government had wanted to keep this information from the public.
keep something from somebody
The government had wanted to keep this information from the public.keep somebody in
phrasal verb1 to make someone stay in hospital because they are too ill to go home : They kept her in overnight for observation.
They kept her in overnight for observation.2 British English to force someone to stay inside, especially as a punishment in school
keep in with somebody
phrasal verbIt's a good idea to keep in with the boss.keep off
phrasal verb1 to prevent something from touching or harming something : She held an old piece of cloth over them both to keep the rain off.
keep something ↔ off
She held an old piece of cloth over them both to keep the rain off.2 used to tell someone not to touch someone or something : Keep your hands off me!
keep your hands off somebody/something
Keep your hands off me!3 to not eat, drink, or take something that is bad for you, or to stop someone else from eating, drinking, or taking it : Keep off fatty foods. a programme aimed at keeping teenagers off drugs
keep (somebody) off something
Keep off fatty foods.a programme aimed at keeping teenagers off drugs4 to avoid talking about a particular subject, especially so that you do not upset someone [= avoid, stay off]
keep off something
especially British English5 if you keep weight off, you do not get heavier again after you have lost weight
keep something ↔ off
6 British English if rain keeps off, it does not fall
keep on
phrasal verb1 to continue doing something, or to do something many times
2 to continue to employ someone, especially for longer than you had planned : If you're good they might keep you on after Christmas.
keep somebody ↔ on
If you're good they might keep you on after Christmas.3 British English informal to talk continuously about something or repeat something many times, in a way that is annoying [= go on]
keep to something
phrasal verb1 to stay on a particular road, course, piece of ground etc : It's best to keep to the paths.
It's best to keep to the paths.2 to do what has been decided in an agreement or plan, or what is demanded by law : Keep to the speed limits.
Keep to the speed limits.3 to talk or write only about the subject you are supposed to be talking about
keep to the point/subject etc
4 to prevent an amount, degree, or level from becoming higher than it should :
keep something to something
5 to not tell anyone about something : I'd appreciate it if you kept it to yourself.
keep something to yourself
I'd appreciate it if you kept it to yourself.6 to live a very quiet private life and not do many things that involve other people
keep to yourself
also keep yourself to yourself British Englishkeep up
phrasal verb1 to continue doing something : I don't think I can keep this up any longer.
keep something ↔ up
I don't think I can keep this up any longer. keep up the good work! (=continue to work hard and well)
2 if a situation keeps up, it continues without stopping or changing [= continue]: How long can the economic boom keep up?
How long can the economic boom keep up?4 to manage to do as much or as well as other people [≠ fall behind]
keep up with Jack's having trouble keeping up with the rest of the class.
Jack's having trouble keeping up with the rest of the class. keep up with the Joneses (=try to have the same new, impressive possessions that other people have)
5 to continue to read and learn about a particular subject, so that you always know about the most recent facts, products etc
keep up with Employees need to keep up with the latest technical developments.
Employees need to keep up with the latest technical developments.6 to make something continue at its present level or amount, instead of letting it decrease : NATO kept up the pressure on the Serbs to get out of Kosovo.
keep something ↔ up
NATO kept up the pressure on the Serbs to get out of Kosovo.7 if one process keeps up with another, it increases at the same speed and by the same amount
keep up with Food production is not keeping up with population growth.
Food production is not keeping up with population growth.8 to continue to practise a skill so that you do not lose it : I used to speak French, but I haven't kept it up.
keep something ↔ up
I used to speak French, but I haven't kept it up.10 to stay happy, strong, confident etc, by making an effort : We sang as we marched, to keep our spirits up.
keep your spirits/strength/morale etc up
We sang as we marched, to keep our spirits up.11 to pretend that everything in your life is normal and happy even though you are in trouble, especially financial trouble
