- keep
- [[t]ki͟ːp[/t]]
♦keeps, keeping, kept1) V-LINK-ERG If someone keeps or is kept in a particular state, they remain in it.
[V n adj/prep] The noise kept him awake...
[V n adj/prep] Reggie was being kept busy behind the bar...
[V adj/prep] To keep warm they burnt wood in a rusty oil barrel...
[V adj/prep] For several years I kept in touch with her.
2) V-ERG If you keep or you are kept in a particular position or place, you remain in it.[V adv/prep] Keep away from the doors while the train is moving...
[V n with adv] He kept his head down, hiding his features...
[V n with adv] It was against all orders to smoke, but a cigarette kept away mosquitoes...
[V n prep] Doctors will keep her in hospital for at least another week.
Syn:3) V-ERG If you keep off something or keep away from it, you avoid it. If you keep out of something, you avoid getting involved in it.[V prep/adv] I managed to stick to the diet and keep off sweet foods...
[V prep/adv] He's going to be a fantastic player if he keeps away from booze and women...
[V n prep/adv] The best way to keep babies off sugar is to go back to the natural diet and eat lots of fresh fruit.
Syn:4) VERB If someone or something keeps you from a particular action, they prevent you from doing it.[V n from -ing] Embarrassment has kept me from doing all sorts of things...
[V n from -ing] He kept her from being lonely...
[V n from -ing] What can you do to keep it from happening again?
Syn:5) VERB If you try to keep from doing something, you try to stop yourself from doing it.[V from -ing] She bit her lip to keep from crying...
[V from -ing] He had to lean on Dan to keep from falling.
6) VERB If you keep something from someone, you do not tell them about it.[V n from n] She knew that Gabriel was keeping something from her.
7) VERB If you keep doing something, you do it repeatedly or continue to do it.[V -ing] I keep forgetting it's December...
[V -ing] I turned back after a while, but he kept walking...
Keep on means the same as keep.V P -ing
Did he give up or keep on trying?... V P -ing My wife keeps on saying that I work too hard.8) VERB Keep is used with some nouns to indicate that someone does something for a period of time or continues to do it. For example, if you keep a grip on something, you continue to hold or control it.[V n] Until last year, the regime kept a tight grip on the country...
[V n] One of them would keep a look-out on the road behind to warn us of approaching vehicles...
[V n] His parents kept a vigil by his bedside as he was given brain and body scans.
9) VERB If you keep something, you continue to have it in your possession and do not throw it away, give it away, or sell it.[V n] `I like this dress,' she said. `Keep it. You can have it,' said Daphne...
[V n] Lathan had to choose between marrying her and keeping his job.
10) VERB If you keep something in a particular place, you always have it or store it in that place so that you can use it whenever you need it.[V n prep/adv] She kept her money under the mattress...
[V n prep/adv] She remembered where she kept the gun...
[V n adj] To make it easier to contact us, keep this card handy.
11) VERB When you keep something such as a promise or an appointment, you do what you said you would do.[V n] I'm hoping you'll keep your promise to come for a long visit...
[V n] He had again failed to keep his word.
12) VERB If you keep a record of a series of events, you write down details of it so that they can be referred to later.[V n] Eleanor began to keep a diary...
[V n] The volunteers kept a record of everything they ate for a week.
13) VERB If you keep yourself or keep someone else, you support yourself or the other person by earning enough money to provide food, clothing, money, and other necessary things.[V n] She could just about afford to keep her five kids...
[V pron-refl] I just cannot afford to keep myself...
[V n in n] He married an Armenian with a good dowry, who kept him in silk cravats.
14) N-SING: poss N Someone's keep is the cost of food and other things that they need in their daily life.Ray will earn his keep on local farms while studying...
I need to give my parents money for my keep.
15) VERB If you keep animals, you own them and take care of them.[V n] I've brought you some eggs. We keep chickens...
[V n as n] This mad writer kept a lobster as a pet.
16) VERB If you keep a business such as a small shop or hotel, you own it and manage it.[V n] His father kept a village shop.
17) VERB If someone or something keeps you, they delay you and make you late.[V n] Sorry to keep you, Jack...
[V n] `What kept you?' - `I went in the wrong direction.'
18) VERB If food keeps for a certain length of time, it stays fresh and suitable to eat for that time.Whatever is left over may be put into the refrigerator, where it will keep for 2-3 weeks.
19) VERB: only cont You can say or ask how someone is keeping as a way of saying or asking whether they are well.[V adv] She hasn't been keeping too well lately...
[V adv] How are you keeping these days?
20) N-COUNT A keep is the main tower of a medieval castle, in which people lived.21) PHRASE: V inflects If you keep at it, you continue doing something that you have started, even if you are tired and would prefer to stop.It may take a number of attempts, but it is worth keeping at it...
`Keep at it!' Thade encouraged me.
Syn:22) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v Something that is for keeps is permanent and will not change. [INFORMAL]Ensure that whatever you gain now will be for keeps...
He advised them to leave town for keeps.
Syn:for good23) PHRASE: keep inflects If you keep going, you continue moving along or doing something that you have started, even if you are tired and would prefer to stop.She forced herself to keep going...
I was shouting: `Keep going, keep going!'
24) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR with cl, oft PHR with n If one thing is in keeping with another, it is suitable in relation to that thing. If one thing is out of keeping with another, you mean that it is not suitable in relation to that thing.His office was in keeping with his station and experience...
In keeping with tradition, the Emperor and Empress did not attend the ceremony...
His own response to it seemed to be out of keeping with his earlier expressed opinions.
25) PHRASE: V inflects If you keep it up, you continue working or trying as hard as you have been in the past.There are fears that he will not be able to keep it up when he gets to the particularly demanding third year...
You're doing a great job! Keep it up!
I have to tell someone. I can't keep it to myself...
There's one thing you can do for me. But keep it to yourself.
27) PHRASE: V inflects If you keep yourself to yourself or keep to yourself, you stay on your own most of the time and do not mix socially with other people.He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself...
Since she knows little Italian, she keeps to herself.
Ant:Phrasal Verbs:- keep on- keep to- keep up
English dictionary. 2008.
