keep

Noun

• a cell in a jail or prison

• the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress

• the financial means whereby one lives
  • each child was expected to pay for their keep
    
  • he applied to the state for support
    
  • he could no longer earn his own livelihood
    

Verb

• prevent (food) from rotting
  • preserved meats
    
  • keep potatoes fresh
    

• hold and prevent from leaving
  • The student was kept after school
    

• maintain for use and service
  • I keep a car in the countryside
    
  • She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
    

• have as a supply
  • I always keep batteries in the freezer
    
  • keep food for a week in the pantry
    
  • She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator
    

• store or keep customarily
  • Where do you keep your gardening tools?
    

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

• raise
  • She keeps a few chickens in the yard
    
  • he keeps bees
    

• maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
  • May God keep you
    

• keep under control; keep in check
  • suppress a smile
    
  • Keep your temper
    
  • keep your cool
    

• behave as expected during of holidays or rites
  • Keep the commandments
    
  • celebrate Christmas
    
  • Observe Yom Kippur
    

• fail to spoil or rot
  • These potatoes keep for a long time
    

• supply with necessities and support
  • She alone sustained her family
    
  • The money will sustain our good cause
    
  • There's little to earn and many to keep
    

• allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
  • We cannot continue several servants any longer
    
  • She retains a lawyer
    
  • The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
    
  • Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
    
  • We kept the work going as long as we could
    
  • She retained her composure
    
  • this garment retains its shape even after many washings
    

• supply with room and board
  • He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
    
  • keep boarders
    

• maintain by writing regular records
  • keep a diary
    
  • maintain a record
    
  • keep notes
    

• look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
  • He keeps the shop when I am gone
    

• stick to correctly or closely
  • The pianist kept time with the metronome
    
  • keep count
    
  • I cannot keep track of all my employees
    

• conform one's action or practice to
  • keep appointments
    
  • she never keeps her promises
    
  • We kept to the original conditions of the contract
    

• stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
  • We must prevent the cancer from spreading
    
  • His snoring kept me from falling asleep
    
  • Keep the child from eating the marbles
    

• retain possession of
  • Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
    
  • She kept her maiden name after she married
    

• continue a certain state, condition, or activity
  • Keep on working!
    
  • We continued to work into the night
    
  • Keep smiling
    
  • We went on working until well past midnight
    

• keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"
  • hold in place
    
  • She always held herself as a lady
    
  • The students keep me on my toes
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  hold , donjon , dungeon , support , livelihood , living , bread and butter , sustenance , preserve , maintain , keep open , hold open , save , restrain , keep back , hold back , observe , celebrate , stay fresh , sustain , retain , continue , keep on , prevent , hold on , go on , proceed , go along
• Antonyms: 
  transgress , offend , infract , violate , go against , breach , break , let , allow , permit , lose , discontinue