keep 1 of 2

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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keep

2 of 2

noun

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
The reissued advisory keeps Italy at a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, due to terrorism. Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2025 The deceptively simple secret to this prolific output that keeps Caamp (in addition to Sumbuck, his solo side project) awash in deeply personal, bittersweet vignettes? Janine Schaults, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Noun
A week after the adoption event, the couple drove to his foster carer's house to take Fletcher home for keeps. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025 An initial eight: There was little doubt about Spoelstra playing this one for keeps. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
  • By the early 2000s, they were already established icons, celebrated by Caribbean and diasporic audiences worldwide.
    Ime Ekpo, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • The pair stepped out to a dinner celebrating the opening of the Orizzonti/Rosso exhibition, staged by the Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti, at Palazzo Barberini.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Employers must retain personnel records and ADS data, including inputs, outputs, and data used to develop or customize the system, for at least four years.
    Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • So far, the second-term Trump Administration has scrubbed federal websites, limited reporters’ access, and used disappearing-message apps for high-level communications that typically should be retained for posterity.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, hundreds of thousands of potential buyers chose not to fulfill their orders, and many of them could have had reasons related to the EV's design flaws.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • This not only fulfills regulatory requirements but also reassures investors about the company's commitment to safeguarding assets and information.
    Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The attack knocked out the electricity that powered the facility’s incubators and damaged the backup generator, but emergency responders rushed in to address the outage and ensure that the thousands of frozen eggs, sperm and embryos stored in cryogenic tanks went unharmed.
    Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • To slow down the process, store some of your slightly underripe avocados in the refrigerator.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Prosecutors said the defendants had marketed gaming operations in the two states and helped internet cafes set and maintain terminals that operated the games, which could be played for credits.
    Ethan Wolin, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
  • It was designed for entrepreneurs, investors, and creators seeking long-term or permanent residences in natural settings, while maintaining access to connectivity and quality.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Klamath Fire has been burning on federal land managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
  • The city must manage costs — as difficult as that is to do politically — rather than searching for new ways to increase taxes.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • In 1950, the wall was reconstructed to control erosion and create artificial beaches.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 23 May 2025
  • Cardinale and his team have long chased the Telegraph, but an earlier an earlier attempt to buy it through All3Media owner RedBird IMI, which is majority controlled out of the Middle East, was blocked by the Conservative Party.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • While these fears may be well-founded, our response should not be to reject crypto altogether, but rather embrace thoughtful policies to mitigate risks, protect consumers, and promote transparency.
    Jeremy Cooney, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
  • Arsenal must protect themselves against a similar outcome next season — and the transfer market provides their best opportunity to do that.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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