kept Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"
   hold; maintain; keep.
   
   • hold in place
   • She always held herself as a lady
   • The students keep me on my toes
2. verb continue a certain state, condition, or activity
   go along; keep; continue; proceed; go on.
   
   • Keep on working!
   • We continued to work into the night
   • Keep smiling
   • We went on working until well past midnight
3. verb retain possession of
   hold on; keep.
   
   • Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
   • She kept her maiden name after she married
4. verb stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
   prevent; keep.
   
   • We must prevent the cancer from spreading
   • His snoring kept me from falling asleep
   • Keep the child from eating the marbles
5. verb conform one's action or practice to
   observe; keep.
   
   • keep appointments
   • she never keeps her promises
   • We kept to the original conditions of the contract
6. verb stick to correctly or closely
   observe; maintain; keep.
   
   • The pianist kept time with the metronome
   • keep count
   • I cannot keep track of all my employees
7. verb look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
   keep.
   
   • He keeps the shop when I am gone
8. verb maintain by writing regular records
   maintain; keep.
   
   • keep a diary
   • maintain a record
   • keep notes
9. verb supply with room and board
   keep.
   
   • He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
   • keep boarders
10. verb allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
    retain; continue; keep on; keep.
    
    • 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
11. verb supply with necessities and support
    maintain; sustain; keep.
    
    • She alone sustained her family
    • The money will sustain our good cause
    • There's little to earn and many to keep
12. verb fail to spoil or rot
    stay fresh; keep.
    
    • These potatoes keep for a long time
13. verb behave as expected during of holidays or rites
    observe; celebrate; keep.
    
    • Keep the commandments
    • celebrate Christmas
    • Observe Yom Kippur
14. verb keep under control; keep in check
    keep back; restrain; hold back; keep.
    
    • suppress a smile
    • Keep your temper
    • keep your cool
15. verb maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
    preserve; keep.
    
    • May God keep you
16. verb raise
    keep.
    
    • She keeps a few chickens in the yard
    • he keeps bees
17. verb retain rights to
    save; keep; hold open; keep open.
    
    • keep my job for me while I give birth
    • keep my seat, please
    • keep open the possibility of a merger
18. verb store or keep customarily
    keep.
    
    • Where do you keep your gardening tools?
19. verb have as a supply
    keep.
    
    • 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
20. verb maintain for use and service
    maintain; keep.
    
    • I keep a car in the countryside
    • She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
21. verb hold and prevent from leaving
    keep.
    
    • The student was kept after school
22. verb prevent (food) from rotting
    preserve; keep.
    
    • preserved meats
    • keep potatoes fresh
23. adjective (especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
    unbroken.
    
    • unbroken promises
    • promises kept

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