keep 1 of 2

verb

ˈkēp How to pronounce keep (audio)
Definition of keepnext
1
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony keep the Sabbath by not working

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to retain
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter

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4
as in to store
to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests

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5
as in to maintain
to pay the living expenses of agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs

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6
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away

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7
as in to control
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) try to keep your composure no matter what happens

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8
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from may God bless and keep you

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keep

2 of 2

noun

as in preserving
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word keep different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of keep are celebrate, commemorate, and observe. While all these words mean "to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed," keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

Where would celebrate be a reasonable alternative to keep?

While in some cases nearly identical to keep, celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

When might commemorate be a better fit than keep?

In some situations, the words commemorate and keep are roughly equivalent. However, commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

When is it sensible to use observe instead of keep?

Although the words observe and keep have much in common, observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of keep
Verb
Plus, keeping everyone in the know manages expectations, ramps up teamwork and ensures everyone is rowing in the same direction from the start. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 The Algerine kept looking but didn’t find any additional bodies. — Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
In summer, its outdoor Luna Cinema shows classics on a screen erected between the keep and the castle’s fabulously odd mansion. — Jamie Carter, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2025 Our editors and contributors have tested several kinds of platform beds over the years, and have some thoughts on what’s for keeps, and what squeaks enough to do without. — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
  1. celebrate
  2. retain
  3. fulfill
  4. store
  5. maintain
  6. manage
  7. control
  8. protect
Verb
  • On Friday, the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce celebrated award winners at a lunch at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.
    — Pedro Portal, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
  • There remains some debate over whether the attack led by John Mason, a Connecticut Colony founder honored with a statue in a niche on the Capitol, can be celebrated as Pequot War victory or a criminal massacre of women and children.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of celebrate
Verb
  • During an interview earlier this week, Witkoff alluded to the idea that Iran would be able to retain uranium enriched to approximately 3.7% for the purposes of energy production.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Last week, the Trump administration demanded Harvard change multiple policies — including those regarding protesting and diversity, equity and inclusion programs — in order to retain its federal funding.
    — Tara Suter, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of retain
Verb
  • Playing in college will fulfill a longtime dream for Waldusky.
    — Sam Brief, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Anyone who doesn’t fulfill those traits won’t qualify for further examination.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of fulfill
Verb
  • For best freshness for longer, store them stem side down, and do not stack them on top of each other.
    — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2025
  • After a bit of work scraping out the cocoons, they can be stored in the refrigerator.
    — Martha Ann Overland, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of store
Verb
  • This substantial commitment reflects the scale of investment required to maintain competitive positioning in the rapidly evolving AI infrastructure market.
    — Maribel Lopez, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • However, Danish authorities have maintained possession of the two friends' passports, according to Ray's family.
    — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of maintain
Verb
  • As for recharging, Google could do better—the Pixel 9a manages just 23 W wired and 7.5 W wireless, and the flagship Pixels are only a little faster.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025
  • With the 18-34 crowd, the season managed a 0.378 rating, up 14% from last season’s 0.332 rating.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of manage
Verb
  • Boone was asked if Chisholm needs to find a better way to control his emotions.
    — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Finding new ways to control blood sugar was the perfect test case.
    — Alice Park, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of control
Verb
  • See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The push to help more than half-a-million Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans is part of a broader legal effort to protect nationals from Ukraine, Afghanistan and other countries who are here legally.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of protect

Phrases Containing keep

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keens
keep
keep an eye on
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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on keep

Nglish: Translation of keep for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about keep

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