From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishkeepkeep1 /kiːp/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle kept /kept/) 1 not change [linking verb, transitive]CONTINUE/NOT STOP to stay in a particular state, condition, or position, or to make someone or something do thiskeep (somebody/something) warm/safe/dry etc We huddled around the fire to keep warm.keep calm/awake/sane etc I was struggling to keep awake.keep something clean/tidy Keep your room tidy.keep somebody busy/amused/occupied some toys to keep the kids amused You won’t be able to keep it secret forever. Peter cycles to work to keep fit. Don’t keep us in suspense any longer!keep (somebody/something) away/back/off/out etc The police put up barriers to keep the crowds back. If I were you, I’d keep away from that area at night. a sign saying ‘Danger: Keep Out’ The little boy kept close to his mother.keep (somebody) out of something Keep him out of trouble. You keep out of this, Mother (=do not get involved). It’s no concern of yours. How can I cut your hair if you won’t keep still!keep left/right (=stay to the left or right of a path or road as you move)keep somebody/something doing something Jane kept the engine running.GRAMMAR: Linking verbsKeep is used as a linking verb in this meaning. It links the subject of the sentence with an adjective: I try to keep busy.The fruit will keep fresh for several weeks.2 continue doing something [intransitive] (also keep on)KEEP DOING something to continue doing something or to do the same thing many timeskeep (on) doing something I keep thinking about Joe, all alone in that place. I keep telling you, but you won’t listen! She pretended not to hear, and kept on walking.GrammarKeep is followed by an -ing form, not an infinitive. You say: He kept talking to me. ✗Don’t say: He kept to talk to me.3 not give back [transitive]KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE to have something and not give it back to the person who had it before You can keep it. I don’t need it anymore.4 not lose [transitive]KEEP/CONTINUE TO HAVE to continue to have something and not lose it or get rid of it We decided to keep our old car instead of selling it. I kept his letters for years. In spite of everything, Robyn’s managed to keep her sense of humor.5 store something [transitive always + adverb/preposition]KEEP/STORE to leave something in one particular place so that you can find it easily Where do you keep your teabags? George kept a bottle of whiskey under his bed. 6 make somebody stay in a place [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make someone stay in a place, especially a prison or hospital He was kept in prison for a week without charge.7 delay somebody [transitive]DELAY to delay someone He should be here by now. What’s keeping him?8 do what you promised [transitive]PROMISE to do what you have promised or agreed to dokeep your word/promise How do I know you’ll keep your word? patients who fail to keep their appointments9 → keep a secret10 → keep something quiet/keep quiet (about something)11 → keep a record/account/diary etc12 → keep going13 food [intransitive]LAST FOR A PERIOD OF TIMESAME if food keeps, it stays fresh enough to be eaten Eat the salmon because it won’t keep till tomorrow.14 animals [transitive]OWN to own and look after animals We keep chickens and a couple of pigs. 15 stop other people from using something [transitive] to stop other people from using something, so that it is available for someone SYN save Will you keep a seat for me?16 → keep somebody waiting17 → keep guard/watch18 shop [transitive] British English old-fashionedOWN to own a small business and work in it19 provide somebody with things [transitive]LOOK AFTER somebody to provide someone with money, food etc He did not earn enough to keep a wife and children.keep somebody in something There’s enough money there to keep you in champagne for a year!20 protect [transitive] formalPROTECT to guard or protect someone The Lord bless you and keep you. His only thought was to keep the child from harm.21 → keep goal/wicketSPOKEN PHRASES22 → keep quiet23 → how are you keeping?24 → keep your hair/shirt on!25 → somebody can keep something26 → it’ll keepTHESAURUS – Meaning 5: to leave something in one particular place so that you can find it easilykeep to leave something in one particular place so that you can find it easilyWhere do you keep the scissors?The keys are kept in my office.store to put things away and keep them until you need themVillagers have begun storing wood for the winter.save to keep something so that you can use or enjoy it in the futureHe had been saving the bottle of champagne for a special occasion.We can save the rest of the pie for later.file to store papers or information in a particular order or a particular placeAll the contracts are filed alphabetically.collect to get and keep objects of the same type because you think they are attractive or interestingKate collects old postcards.hold to keep something to be used when it is needed, especially something that many different people may need to useMedical records are now usually held on computers.reserve formal to keep part of something for use at a later time during a process such as cookingReserve some of the chocolate so that you can use it for decorating the cake.hoard to keep large amounts of food, money etc because you think you may not be able to get them in the future – used when you do not approve of people doing this because it is not necessary or not fair to other peoplePeople have been hoarding food and fuel in case there is another attack.Rationing of basic food products was introduced to prevent hoarding. → keep at something → keep back → keep somebody/something ↔ down → keep from → keep somebody in → keep in with somebody → keep off → keep on → keep to something → keep up → keep up with somebody→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
keep• New shells for old Q I would like to keep a Hermit Club.• I was always getting kept after school for something when I was a kid.• I keep all my tickets and boarding passes as souvenirs.• My mother kept all the letters my father ever wrote her.• Paul managed to keep awake by drinking lots of strong black coffee.• People don't keep Christmas the way they used to.• Mac should be here by now. What's keeping him?• Charlie Northrup drove his car to the Biondo farm at dusk to keep his appointment with Jack.• In spite of the difficulties, Roby's kept his sense of humor.• I don't know how he managed to keep his sense of humour with all he's been through.• My grandfather kept his teeth in a glass next to his bed.• The countryside has a dignity in Piersanti's novel which keeps it from becoming a mere object of nostalgia.• Still, the only thing it ever kept me from doing in sports was being a football referee.• I'd hate to have a job that kept me in the office all the time.• My job keeps me really busy.• I've decided to keep my car even though it's getting old.• The relationship was not kept secret from her supervisors.• Keep still. I need to put a bandage on your finger.• It's hard to keep the house clean with three kids.• Mom and Dad said we could keep the puppy.• Do you think this bacon will keep till tomorrow?• Keegan is desperate to stay after savouring his first taste in management by keeping United in the Second Division.• Eat celery as soon as possible -- it does not keep well for long periods.• Don't let me keep you if you have other things to do.• May the Lord bless you and keep you.• Don't let me keep you.• In both of these cases you have kept your centre-line turned to face the opponent and so left your options open.keep somebody/something doing something• Keep the water running until it gets hot.• You kept me waiting for more than an hour!keep (on) doing something• Dad, Bobby keeps hitting me!• Don just kept on talking like nothing happened.• How can I explain if you keep on interrupting me?• I keep forgetting to mail this letter.• I keep making the same mistake over and over.keep ... appointments• Access to care is controlled by the client, who can choose to keep or not keep appointments.• Efforts were made to contact patients who did not keep appointments.• It is important for hospital-based therapists to realize that many self-poisoning patients fail to keep outpatient appointments.• She pretended to keep appointments and went to the wine shop instead.• But if you keep your on-line appointments diary up to date, a calendar on the network can compare everyone's schedules.• He didn't keep appointments, for one thing.• The idea of keeping appointments was an alien concept.keep somebody in something• Zach's growing so fast we can hardly keep him in jeans.keep ... from harm• I realise you were desperate to protect him and keep him from harm.• She gave him her veil, which would keep him from harm as long as he was in the sea.keepkeep2 noun 1 → somebody’s keep2 → for keeps3 [countable]PM a large strong tower, usually in the centre of a castleExamples from the Corpus
keep• How else could he have got them out of the keep?From Longman Business Dictionarykeepkeep /kiːp/ verb (past tense and past participle kept) /kept/1[transitive] to store something that will be usefulThe Credit Reference Agency keeps files on individuals’ debt records.You shouldkeep a supply of forms.2keep a record/log/account etc to regularly record written information somewhere → keep to something → keep somebody → on → keep up→ See Verb tableOrigin keep1 Old English cepan 