keep
A1Universal; common in all registers from informal to formal.
Definition
Meaning
to have or retain possession of something; to cause something to continue in a specified state or position.
To maintain, protect, store, observe (rules, secrets), fulfill (promises), and to own and manage (animals or a business).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb 'keep' has a wide semantic field centered on maintenance and continuation. Its meaning heavily depends on the following particle (e.g., keep on, keep up) or object.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal core differences. UK speakers may more commonly use 'keep' in phrasal verbs like 'keep your pecker up'. US speakers might use 'keep' more in business contexts like 'keep the books'.
Connotations
Largely identical. Both use 'keep house' (manage a home).
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both dialects with identical core uses.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
keep + NP (He kept the money)keep + NP + Adj (Keep the door open)keep + V-ing (She kept talking)keep + NP + V-ing (Don't keep him waiting)keep + from + V-ing (I couldn't keep from laughing)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “keep your chin up”
- “keep your fingers crossed”
- “keep someone at arm's length”
- “keep the wolf from the door”
- “keep a straight face”
- “keep your nose clean”
- “keep your shirt on”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To maintain records or operations: 'We must keep costs under control.'
Academic
To continue or preserve a state: 'The study aims to keep the variables constant.'
Everyday
To retain or store: 'Where do you keep the coffee?'
Technical
In computing: 'The application runs in the background to keep the connection alive.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You can keep the biscuits.
- The school keeps a herd of goats.
- Keep left on the motorway.
- He couldn't keep from giggling.
American English
- You can keep the cookies.
- The farm keeps a herd of bison.
- Keep right on the freeway.
- He couldn't keep from laughing out loud.
adverb
British English
- N/A (Not a standard adverb).
American English
- N/A (Not a standard adverb).
adjective
British English
- N/A (Not a standard adjective).
American English
- N/A (Not a standard adjective).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I keep my keys in my bag.
- Keep the door closed, please.
- She keeps a cat.
- We keep milk in the fridge.
- He kept talking during the film.
- Try to keep your room tidy.
- I'll keep your secret.
- The shop keeps late hours on Fridays.
- She kept her composure during the crisis.
- They struggled to keep pace with new regulations.
- This jacket will keep you warm.
- He was kept in the dark about the plans.
- The government failed to keep inflation in check.
- She has a remarkable ability to keep several projects moving simultaneously.
- The treaty is intended to keep the peace in the region.
- He kept his own counsel throughout the negotiations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a castle KEEP – a strong, central place where things are stored and protected, and the lord RETAINS his power.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSION IS HOLDING (keeping an idea); CONTINUITY IS MOVING ALONG A PATH (keep going); CONTROL IS HOLDING (keep in check).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'keep doing something' as 'хранить делать'. Use 'продолжать делать'.
- 'Keep someone' does not mean 'содержать кого-то' in all contexts (e.g., 'Keep the noise down' = 'Ведите себя тише').
- Avoid overusing 'держать' for every meaning of 'keep'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I kept to wait for an hour.' Correct: 'I kept waiting for an hour.'
- Incorrect: 'Keep on the light.' Correct: 'Keep the light on.'
- Incorrect use of 'keep' vs. 'put': 'Where should I keep this box?' (store long-term) vs. 'Where should I put this box?' (place now).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'keep' to mean 'maintain a record'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Keep on' + V-ing emphasizes persistent, often annoying, continuation ('He kept on interrupting me'), while 'keep' + Adj/NP focuses on maintaining a state ('Keep the door open').
Yes, but it's less common. As a noun, it means 'food and lodging' ('He earned his keep by working in the stables') or the strongest central tower of a castle ('the castle keep').
It can be both. Stative: 'I keep old letters in a box.' (possession). Dynamic: 'She kept waving until the train was out of sight.' (continued action).
Use the structure 'keep + object + adjective' to show maintaining a state: 'The medicine kept him awake.' 'Keep your answers brief.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Verbs
A1 · 50 words · Essential action words used in everyday conversation.