Kiːp Extra Examples I Continue Record Verb Letters

• he kept all her letters.
• she handed the waiter a hundred dollar bill and told him to keep the change.
• always keep a backup of the file.
• keep your passport in a safe place.

keep

Verb Forms

1. to continue to have something and not give it back or throw it away
• He kept all her letters.
• She handed the waiter a hundred dollar bill and told him to keep the change.
• Always keep a backup of the file.
2. to put or store something in a particular place
• Keep your passport in a safe place.

Extra Examples

• Where do you keep the sugar?
• The documents are all kept under lock and key.
3. to save something for somebody
• Please keep a seat for me.
• The man in the shop said he'd keep it for me until Friday.
• Please keep me a seat.
4. to stay in a particular condition or position; to make somebody/something do this
• We huddled together to keep warm.
• I could not keep silent any longer.
• The notice said ‘Keep off (= Do not walk on) the grass’.
• Keep left along the wall.
• The doctors worked miracles to keep him alive.
• Winning the contract means they can now keep the factory open.
• She kept the children amused for hours.
• Keep your PIN safe.
• He kept his coat on.
• Don't keep us in suspense—what happened next?
• She had trouble keeping her balance.
• I'm very sorry to keep you waiting.

Extra Examples

• I'm amazed that she keeps so cheerful.
• Keep close to me.
• She needed to keep busy.
• Sit down and keep calm!
• Try to keep active in the cold weather.
• We managed to keep dry by standing in a doorway.
5. to continue doing something; to do something repeatedly
• Keep smiling!
• Why does everyone keep saying that?
• Things just keep getting worse.
• Don't keep on interrupting me!
6. to know something and not tell it to anyone
• Can you keep a secret?
• She kept her past secret from us all.
7. to do what you have promised to do; to go where you have agreed to go
• She kept her promise to visit them.
• Mary kept her word and Henry was never informed.
• He failed to keep his appointment at the clinic.
8. to write down something as a record
• She kept a diary for over twenty years.
• We keep a record of all complaints that we receive.
• Keep a note of where each item can be found.
• I kept a weekly account of my workload and activities.

Extra Examples

• Separate accounts must be kept for each different business activity.
• Village clerks were unable to keep a proper record of deaths because they were so frequent.
9. to own and care for animals
• to keep bees/goats/hens
• My grandmother kept chickens in her back yard.
• Residents are not allowed to keep pets.
10. to own and manage a shop or restaurant
• Her father kept a grocer's shop.
11. to provide what is necessary for somebody to live; to support somebody by paying for food, etc.
• He scarcely earns enough to keep himself and his family.

Extra Examples

• At the time many working men did not earn enough to keep a wife and children.
• He kept himself by giving private lessons.
12. to delay somebody
• SYNONYM hold up
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/hold-up_1#hold_sng_127
• You're an hour late—what kept you?
• I won't keep you long. I've just got a couple of quick questions.
13. used to ask or talk about somebody’s health
• How is your mother keeping?
• We're all keeping well.
14. to remain in good condition
• Finish off the pie—it won't keep.
• Milk and cream should keep quite well in a fridge.
• ‘I'd love to hear about it, but I'm late already.’ ‘That's OK—it'll keep (= I can tell you about it later).’
15. to protect somebody from something
• May the Lord bless you and keep you (= used in prayers in the Christian Church).
• His only thought was to keep the boy from harm.
16. to guard or protect the goal or wicket
• SEE ALSO goalkeeper
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/goalkeeper
17. to make an effort to live normally when you are in a difficult situation or when you have experienced great pain and difficulty
• You just have to keep yourself busy and keep going.
18. used to encourage somebody to continue doing something
• Keep going, Sarah, you're nearly there.
19. to be enough for somebody until they get what they are waiting for
• Have an apple to keep you going till dinner time.

Word Origin

• late Old English cēpan ‘seize, take in’, also ‘care for, attend to’, of unknown origin.