Definition

Verb: - To retain rights or access to something; to maintain the availability or possibility of something. It means to ensure that an option, opportunity, position, or resource remains accessible and not closed off or given to someone else.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the action of preserving a specific state of availability. It is often followed by a direct object indicating what is being kept available (e.g., a job, a seat, an option). - It is commonly used in professional, formal, or polite contexts when discussing reservations, opportunities, or future plans. - The structure is typically "keep [something] open" or "keep open [something]".

Examples

• Verb:
  • Please keep my seat open; I will return in ten minutes.
  • The university agreed to keep open the application deadline for another week.
  • We should keep our options open while we gather more information.

Advanced Usage

• "To keep one's options open": A common idiom meaning to avoid making a final decision or commitment so that different choices remain available.
  • She hasn't accepted any job offers yet because she wants to keep her options open.

Variants and Related Words

• Hold open (verb phrase): A near-synonym, often used interchangeably with "keep open," especially for physical things like doors or positions.
  • Could you hold open the door for me?
• Reserve (verb): To arrange for something to be kept for a particular person or purpose.
  • I have reserved a table for two.

Synonyms

• Retain: To continue to have or hold.
• Preserve: To maintain something in its original or existing state.
• Maintain: To cause something to continue.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Keep up (something): To continue or maintain something at the same level.
  • It's hard to keep up the payments.
• Hold on to (something): To keep something, especially when it is difficult to do so.
  • You should hold on to those old letters.

Related Idioms

• Keep the door open (for something): To maintain the possibility of something happening in the future.
  • The manager said she would keep the door open for future negotiations.

Verb

1. retain rights to
   • keep my job for me while I give birth
   • keep my seat, please
   • keep open the possibility of a merger