Definition

Verb: - To remain in a good, usable, or unspoiled condition; to not decay, rot, or become inedible.

Usage

This verb phrase describes the state of something, typically food or perishable goods, maintaining its quality over time. It is often used to indicate a surprisingly long or expected duration of freshness. - Grammatical Note: It is an intransitive verb phrase. It does not take a direct object. The subject is the item that remains fresh.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "stay fresh in one's memory": This is an idiomatic extension where an abstract concept (like a memory) remains vivid and clear, as if not decaying over time.
  • The details of that day stay fresh in my memory even after all these years.

Variants and Related Words

• Keep (verb): Often used synonymously in the context of food preservation (e.g., ).
• Preserve (verb): To take active steps to make something stay fresh or prevent decay (e.g., ).
• Freshness (noun): The state of being fresh.

Synonyms

• Keep
• Remain fresh
• Last (in the context of perishables)

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• Keep from spoiling: A more explicit phrase with the same meaning.
  • Refrigeration helps meat keep from spoiling.

Related Idioms

• As fresh as a daisy: An idiom describing someone or something that looks very fresh, lively, and full of energy. While related to the concept of freshness, it is not directly about preservation.
  • After a short nap, she was as fresh as a daisy.

Verb

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